OK, a slight exaggeration, but the 1999 Brut Extended Tirage is even better. Light gold-colored, this lively, vibrant effort has tons of flavor and exceptional length. Drink it over the next 3 years. Rollin Soles is convinced that great Chardonnay can be produced in the Willamette Valley. He presented a vertical of Nut House Chardonnay from 1999 through 2007 to make his point. The wines clearly reflect vintage conditions with 1999 and 2002 showing particularly well and 2003 reflecting the effects of extreme heat spikes. Argyle’s Pinot Noir fruit was all picked pre-rain. However, there is no green or herbaceous character in any of the wines www.argylewinery.com

Argyle’s Extended Tirage benefits from all the extra bottle age. It’s far and away the smoothest and toastiest of the winery’s current sparkling wine releases, lavishing toasted hazelnut and toasted coconut flavors along with dried apple, papaya and lemon rind. Complex yet still nicely fruity.——P.G.(4/1/2010)—— 91