Wine Finds: Oregon bubbly for Valentine’s Day
By Gail Appleson
Valentine’s Day is next week, so why not spend a few extra dollars on a special sparkling wine that you might not ordinarily try? One excellent choice is the Argyle 2014 Vintage Brut that comes from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. This wine is appealing for a number of reasons: It is consistently praised by critics; few Oregon sparkling wines are available in our market; and it’s unusual to find a domestic vintage sparkling wine at such an affordable price. Another important plus is that the Willamette Valley is famous for its pinot noir, which is a key component of this blend.
Argyle was founded in 1987 by Rollin Soles with the goal of producing premium sparkling wine. Today, it also makes still wines from pinot noir, chardonnay and riesling. In fact, according to Argyle’s website, it’s the only U.S. winery to make it into Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines of the World” in three wine categories: red, white and sparkling.
Argyle 2014 Vintage Brut, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Description • This elegant and vibrant sparkling wine earned well-deserved 90-91 point scores from several reviewers. It’s a blend of 65 percent pinot noir, 30 percent chardonnay and 5 percent pinot meunier, which are the same grape varieties used to make real French Champagne. A light gold color with fine pinpoint bubbles and a beautiful lingering mousse, this is a lush, medium-bodied sparkling wine that’s rich and creamy. It tastes of apples and pears and ends with a refreshing lemon pie finish. Well-balanced and delicious, it can be enjoyed on its own or paired with just about anything.