2021 Argyle - Willamette Valley Brut Rose (750ml)

Argyle Winery was founded in 1987 by Texan winemaker Rollin Soles alongside Australian vintner Brian Croser, who together recognized the Willamette Valley's cool climate as ideal terrain for traditional-method sparkling wine. Working out of a converted hazelnut processing plant in downtown Dundee, the pair built one of Oregon's first grower-focused sparkling wine programs, anchored by the historic Knudsen Vineyard in the Dundee Hills. Argyle has since become the state's benchmark producer of méthode champenoise wines, and remains headquartered in Dundee today under a new generation of winemaking leadership.

This Brut Rosé is produced from select lots of estate-grown Pinot Noir given brief skin contact to develop its color and character, then made using the traditional method with a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The 2021 growing season began with a dry spring and a light rain during bloom that trimmed yields but allowed the remaining fruit to ripen with excellent concentration, followed by a warm, sunny summer that pushed harvest earlier than usual. Extended aging on the lees afterward added depth and a fine, persistent mousse to the finished wine.

The nose offers wild strawberry and Rainier cherry layered with rose petal, brioche, and a touch of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is crisp and creamy at once, with fine bubbles carrying flavors of red berries and orange blossom through to a clean, refreshing finish. Its bright acidity makes it a natural match for smoked salmon, fried chicken, or a bowl of fresh strawberries with cream.