Argyle Brut 2003

This is some robust, bold bubbly! The 2003 vintage of Argyle Brut could be described as a bit of Yin and a bit of Yang leading to a lot of Whoopee! The Yin came in the form of a September week of wet weather. Some berry splitting and a couple of potential mold issues would have multiplied our grief if another week of wet weather had ensued. Then Yang kicked in with a vengeance in the form of a very hot, dry east wind during the week of the 22nd of September. 95F on September 27th is unprecedented in our cool climate region! Our fears of splitting and mold were replaced by raisining and shriveling. The solution was to start up our irrigation system in the best vineyard blocks replacing evaporated berry and vine moisture, and allowing us to wait out the heat. Thus, fruit flavor and balance was maintained, producing wines of incredible power and ripeness!

The flavor is very robust of that plum and apple fruit settling on a multi-layer slab of slate-like minerality. The finish is rich, creamy and yeasty with ripe Pinot Noir fruit character driving the impression of this wine on down the long, highway of one's gullet.