Oregon: Argyle 2012 Blanc de Blancs

The Willamette Valley lies along the same general latitude as the Burgundy and Champagne regions, and in the last decade it has drawn a number of prominent winemakers from France, from Jean-Nicolas Méo to Jacques Lardière. But Argyle has been there all along, making remarkable sparkling wine since it was founded in 1987 by winemaker […]

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The Argyle 2012 Blanc de Blancs ($50)

The Willamette Valley lies along the same general latitude as the Burgundy and Champagne regions, and in the last decade it has drawn a number of prominent winemakers from France, from Jean-Nicolas Méo to Jacques Lardière. But Argyle has been there all along, making remarkable sparkling wine since it was founded in 1987 by winemaker Rollin Soles, viticulturist Allen Holstein, and Australian winemaking legend Brian Croser. The Argyle 2012 Blanc de Blancs ($50) is made with 100 percent Chardonnay from Julia Lee’s Block in the Knudsen Vineyard, which was planted in 1990. Fermented and aged in the winery’s oldest neutral oak barrels, it is fresh and elegant as an aperitif or as a nimble partner with fish. (argylewinery.com)