2022 Argyle - Willamette Valley Brut Blanc de Blancs (750ml)

Argyle was founded in 1987 in Dundee, Oregon, by winemaker Rollin Soles and Australian Brian Croser. The goal was to make sparkling wine that could stand beside Champagne, using the cool climate of the Willamette Valley. The winery occupies a former hazelnut processing facility in downtown Dundee, which gave its Nuthouse name. Argyle remains one of the best-known names in Oregon sparkling wine. Kate Payne Brown became head winemaker in 2025, only the third in its history.

This Blanc de Blancs is 100 percent Chardonnay from the Willamette Valley, grown on Dijon clones that Argyle selects for late-ripening, high-acid fruit. Like all Argyle sparkling wines, it is vintage dated and made by the traditional method, with the second fermentation in the bottle. In recent vintages, part of the base wine ferments and ages in neutral French oak, while most stays in stainless steel. The wine then rests on its lees for at least three years before release. It finishes at about 12.5 percent alcohol.

The 2022 is bright and mineral, with citrus, green apple, and pear aromas, along with notes of brioche and toasted almond. The palate is crisp and finely beaded, with lively acidity and a clean, savory finish. It pairs well with oysters, crab, and lobster. It also works as a celebratory aperitif.