The 2005 Pinot Noir Reserve is sourced from the winery’s Knudsen Vineyard. The nose features lavender, cinnamon, rose petal, cassis, and raspberry. The wine has vibrant acidity and the structure typical of the 2005 vintage but with more than enough fruit to provide balance. Argyle Winery, under the leadership of longtime winemaker Rollin Soles, produces 50,000 cases including 12,000 cases of some of the best sparkling wine made in the USA. Argyle’s first vintage was 1987 and they currently offer Riesling and Chardonnay in addition to sparkling wine and, of course, Pinot Noir. Tel. 1-888-4-ARGYLE; www.argylewinery.com. Also tasted: 2002 Argyle Brut (90), 1996 Extended Tirage (93), 1999 Julia Lee’s Block Blanc de Blancs (91), 1999 Knudsen Vineyard Brut (92), 2005 Chardonnay “Nuthouse” (84), 2005 Riesling (89), 2006 Riesling (90)

Argyle’s reserve shows more barrel flavor than the regular Willamette Valley bottling, highlighting an interesting mix of Asian spice and coffee. But the tannins are oddly absent; there seems to be a bit of a hole in the back of the wine. It opens beautifully, then hits a dead spot. A good wine, but missing something.——P.G.(4/1/2008)—— 87