Argyle Extended Tirage Brut 1995

What were you doing twelve years ago? We were picking the grapes that have become this sparkling wine. Since then it has been aging slowly on yeast in the bottle in our cool temperature warehouse. The color is a rich, youthful yellow. After ten years of waiting, the aromas are ready to punch out of the glass with a rich potpourri of wild ginger root, Gala apple, and a splash of nectarine, tangerine and mandarin! The flavor is extra creamy in texture. The bubbles are tiny and foamy. The fruit flavors of the aroma complex with pink pepper spice and baked filo dough yeastiness. Mouth-filling richness is translated into a very long and fresh finish. This wine will also age for quite some time on cork if cellared properly.

The 1995 vintage in Oregon was a sparkling winemakers dream. Late ripening, of perfectly balanced sparkling wine grapes were unaffected by early rains. Everyone of the some 25 base wines we made in 1995 was a delight. The grapes for this wine were hand-picked into small baskets. They were then transported to the winery where they were chilled to 35 degrees F before being gently pressed. After several weeks of settling in tank, only the freshest "heart" juice was fermented using one of Argyle's proprietary yeast strains. A blend of 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Noir and bottle aged on yeast for a decade, this ET retains the freshness of youth.

"An assemblage of 65% Chardonnay and 35% Pinot Noir, the 1995 Brut Extended Tirage is disgorged on demand. Its complex nose of minerals, toast, yeast, and dried honey is followed by a medium-bodied character of green apples, almonds, hazelnuts (or filberts as they're known in Oregon), and flowers. This outstanding sparkler has a wonderful balance, expressiveness and length."
-Wine Advocate

"A lovely follow-up to the outstanding '94, this well-integrated, perfectly aged brut is still crisp and showing hints of fresh apple, along with beeswax, citrus and gooseberry. It shows off with a gorgeous mousse, and persistent fresh flavors that linger without cracking up."
-Wine Enthusiast