Argyle, Spirithouse Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills

Retail $65(?). Under screw cap. It was a normal Tuesday afternoon and I was doing a bit of inventory in the cellar here in Houston and I came across this wine that was nowhere to be found in my cellar. #Score. On the dark side when it comes to Pinot with aromas of dark berry fruit (maybe some mocha?), anise, and spice. The palate, however, exuded a completely different vibe with a zingy tartness, followed by more-than-ample fruit, and just …

2005 vintage

Screw cap. For several years, starting just under a decade ago, I had a guy on the inside at Argyle. He was fairly high up, I think, in the management structure and he sold me a bunch of wine at what had to be below wholesale. I bought 6 of these for far less than half of retail. I should have bought 12. Or 18. Or.... Red cherry, eucalyptus, red earth, and verve on the nose. On the palate? Whoa. …

2005 vintage

Rich cherries and raspberries. Finishes with an earthy kick,

2005 vintage

This wine got better as it was opened over a 2 hour period. That seems to tell me it could have more life to come, but we never know. This was an 88-89 pt wine upon opening, so a little air was beneficial.

2004 vintage

Similar to my most recent note (92 points). I'd only like to add that this is holding up well with no signs of slowing down soon.

2005 vintage

holding up just fine, great fruit still, balanced acid. Black raspberries, clove, spice and a little Oregon dirt. The only complaint was the alcohol threw off the balance of everything else. I'm not sure this wine was built for 14.5%. Still quite enjoyable, everything has really melded together over the last ten years.

2005 vintage

I was cooking salmon and thus an OR Pinot was a necessity. I encrusted the salmon with thyme an this really was accentuated by the wine. The tart cherry is there as well in spades (still tons of fruit), but there is earth, pine needles, and depth. This deserves a Whoa. Maybe two. thedrunkencyclist.com

2005 vintage

Really flavorful. Great birthday dinner wine. Complimented both shrimp and a Ribeye well

2005 vintage

Bright cherry and strawberry fruit notes with spice and smoked meat notes. Finishes rich and creamy. Very smooth and light on its feet. This showed no signs of slowing down and seems like it could go for a long while in bottle.

2005 vintage

Nice, rather light-bodied Oregon pinot. Not jammy at all, almost burgundian. Drinking really well, right now.

2004 vintage

I feel the best days are behind this wine unless the earthy components develop and pick the wine up. Fresh fruit is fading.

2005 vintage

Retail ~$70. I am a fan of Argyle. I would even say that I am a big fan of Argyle. Right now I have 55 bottles in the cellar and Cellar Tracker tells me I have bought more than 20 cases of their wine over the years (most of that was the Brut and a good bit of it I bought for friends, but still…). I hold on to these single vineyard Pinots for a while to give them a …

2005 vintage

Very nice again and a little better on the second night. The acid is fresh but not intrusive.

2005 vintage

Ahh, that's better. The alcohol has calmed down. Lovely, red fruits and spice - which is more to the fore - and earthiness. Jeez but I do like Oregon Pinot Noir, especially from the Willamette Valley.

2005 vintage

Surprised how far I diverged from other reviewers. The wine was good, and reminded me of an older world version, with some interesting and earthy tones, but was more unideimensional than I was hoping. There was a nice acidic zing throughout, but lacking in the fruit department.

2005 vintage

The rich fruit present a few years ago has subsided a little and there is a nice acid streak that is very fresh. Very much in balance and a little funky. May improve but seem to be ready now with a little air time.

2005 vintage

Brick red color-light; a classic pinot nose of raspberry jam, cedar, mild game, funk and flowers; sappy raspberry/cherry flavors, very juicy, with a lingering finish; with a bit of air, this came alive, offering richer, fuller flavors and more complexity; unfortunately, the wine ebbed and flowed between a simple, straightforward, juicy Cali pinot to a more sophisticated and complext Burgundian style.

2005 vintage

Bit 'hot' on the nose and palate - alcohol imbalance? Red fruit, white pepper, some clove and touches of earthiness & leather coming through. Medium plus acid on initial impression but not too much tannin; and what there was proved quite smooth. Medium length finish with mild fennel tones and quite a nice mouth feel.

2005 vintage

NobleRottersSydney - California (mostly) (Alio's, Surry Hills) : [14.5%, screwcap] {David} Big nose, youthful, a bit spirity even, dominated by sweet blueberry aromas. A big fruity palate follows, low in powdery tannin (oak is discreet), but big on red berries, cherries and blueberries. Lavish, velvety texture. Not subtle, though; the alcohol seems very warm on the finish, and the flavours are a bit one-dimensional right now. Otherwise, decent balance; the only concern with another five years in the cellar is …

2005 vintage

Notes of earth, strawberry and smoked meat. Very smooth and elegant with a creamy and spiced finish that goes on. Gone is the sharp middle from my previous 89 point score.

2005 vintage

2nd taste 2/2/2010, this wine has cellared well, is well into the 94 rnage now. Its taste sweet and suductive, ample fruit, chewey middle and long finish. 7/15/08 This Pinot Noir is suppose to be the best reserve Argyle makes. The pour show a well aged wine with and orangish tint. The nose is blackberry and cherry fruit, earth and dried flowers. The taste is fruit forward, cherry and , a tart middle with a long pepper finish. Overall very …

2005 vintage

A top example of Oregon PN. Raspberry, dark cherry on the nose, then whiff of vanilla, burnt sugar, palate matches the nose really well, moderate length. New world ripeness but real complexity as well. More open then the last bottle, these may hit stride in a couple of years yet. Drink or hold.

2005 vintage

The first sips after pulling it from the cellar were all cherry and nice tannins. As the wine warmed to a better temperature it began to show bright cherry and picks up some weight. The aromas are complex; floral, tobacco, and a little toasted oak. It is smooth and balanced with a long finish. After about 2.5 hours the nose shows lots of cola. This bottle showed a beautiful consistent color.

2004 vintage

A nice Pinot with a lot of ripe fruit and spicy oak. Chocolate covered cherries on the nose. Overall, very pleasant.

2004 vintage

Could have waited a few more years before popping. Awesome.

2005 vintage

This is an excellent wine. It was my favorite of the Dundee Hills flight. I noted roses and violet notes on the nose coupled with spice, minerals and black fruits. It was very silky and balanced on the palate..As Parker says..”very sexy” wine. A beautiful finish and a wine that is showing quite well at this stage. Perhaps not one to put away for the long haul. Just enjoy now

2005 vintage

Yup - still a great wine and I enjoy drinking it. (see previous notes for more details) But I do think that at $70, this is certainly a bit too pricey. I have a couple of 06s left but going forward, I will probably stick to the slightly lower priced "Nuthouse" offering, which I also prefer over the Spirithouse.

2005 vintage

Very Elegant, great mouth feel and finish

2004 vintage

Pre-party for the L school Halloween bash (one day late on account of oral arguments this morning): Very nice, opened right up this time, much better than last. Has put on some weight. Nose of flowers and dark red berry. Not a particularly earthy pinot, but reminds me, almost, of a nice volnay santenots, which I like a lot. Really good.

2005 vintage

The Argyle "Spirithouse" is the top of the line offering from Argyle and arguably one of the top Pinot Noir wines coming out of Oregon. Wonderful expressive nose of cherries and a bit of a floral and cola note. There is a really nice chocolate element in the flavor that mixes well with the fruit and the creamy texture is just awesome. I only have two real sticky points with this wine. One is that I am not sure if …

2005 vintage

Dark ruby. Nose of black fruit, must, Indian spice. Spicy also on the palate, with candied strawberries and raspberries. Medicinal and lanolin notes were also present, lending an atypical element to the wine. Moderate finish, low acid, unobtrusive tannins. Our first experience with a screwcap Oregon pinot.

2004 vintage

This has come a long way, with more complexity than my last bottle in Nov. '06. Kept evolving in the glass, making it pleasantly hard to pin down. My last impression was of blueberries and a sweet cola flavor.

2004 vintage

Earthy and herbs, with hints of cassis. Mushrooms and cedar, with a touch of eucalyptus. Had on subsequent days and seemed better on day 2. The nuthouse bottling has been consistently better.

2004 vintage

This wine is improving already. Drank it with friends watching football with shrimp cocktail and other appetizers. Great stuff

2004 vintage

Cherries, earth, spicebox and violets on the nose. Spicy, raspberries on the palate. Rich, long finish. Good acidity.

2004 vintage

Typical Oregon pinot flavors (mainly cherry and spice). Good -- but not great -- now, with the structure (but perhaps not the stuffing?) to age. My immediate impression is that the 2003 Spirithouse was richer and more complex. I think I'll wait a while before opening the next one.

2004 vintage

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Argyle, Spirithouse Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills

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