Minnesota-grown Nate Klostermann has extended the sterling reputation of Arygle’s sparkling wine program during his two decades at the historic facility in Dundee, Ore. Some of those aspects were applied to this rosé, a product of six clones from Argyle’s loftiest and coolest blocks in its 137-acre Spirit Hill planting in the Eola-Amity Hills. “In many ways we approach our rosé like a sparkling wine, picking at lower Brix (20.2) to retain acidity and more delicate notes, while teasing out textural elements through skin contact,” he says. Some fruit was destemmed, soaked on the skins and then pressed for color and aromatics, while the rest were direct-to-press in order to build mouthfeel. The profile clean and precise with Rainier cherry, pink strawberry, cranberry, peach skin and orange oil notes. It’s a bit bigger style of Pinot Noir rosé featuring high-toned red fruitiness, and its price is rather modest for a rosé from Willamette Valley-grown Pinot Noir.
Rating: Outstanding! — 92 points
Production: 2,750 cases
Alcohol: 12.5%
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