Our high opinion of pinot noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley was kicked up another notch when we tasted the 2012 Argyle Pinot Noir, which can be found in the $23 range. This is a superb and pure example of what this medium-bodied red can be: complex, lush and elegant.
Fruit is very much to the fore, as it should be. Ripe cherry, a nice brambly edge and a hint of cassis on the nose segue into full frontal cherry and red raspberry on the tongue, accented by fainter notes of plum, mocha and white pepper. The result is a dark and harmonious flavor profile. A medium-long, silky finish is capped by just a hint of anise at signoff.
The bottom line: if you are a pinot noir drinker, this is one not to be missed.
This pinot will pair well with a wide range of foods, but earthy examples that come immediately to mind are beef stroganoff and wood-fired wild mushroom pizza.
— Colette and John Bancroft
St. Petersburg Times