Argot Pinot Noir Sonoma Mountain 2019

Argot is the creation of owner and winemaker Justin Harmon. A chemical engineer graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, Justin’s winemaking training began in his home in Chicago, IL. An obsession and curiosity for wine inspired him to study enology textbooks published by UC Davis while fermenting small batches of wine in his basement. From there, his passion intensified, and his eagerness to learn increased. Following years of devout consumerism, the desire to dig deeper became insatiable. The swirl, sniff, and sip approach was no longer enough to feed his hungry spirit. Vacations revolved around wine country: visiting tasting rooms, participating in vineyard walks and winery tours, and gaining an audience with winemakers. The direct industry contact he experienced stoked the fire to gain additional exposure to the art of winemaking. He made the bold move to Sonoma County a few short years later to reinvent himself as a winemaker. After working two vintages under the tutelage of Russel Bevan, he established Argot in 2007. The inaugural vintage consisted of a single ton of Syrah. Each subsequent year, under the Argot banner, Justin has continued adding vineyards, and exploring new varietals, while learning the craft of winemaking and honing his skills on the job. Over a decade into this career change, Justin remains dedicated to producing only the highest quality wine, working exclusively with small lots. 

A perfect Pinot from a perfect vintage, grown in multiple vineyards throughout Sonoma County, including both valley floor and high-elevation hillside sites. Separate cluster and berry sorting by hand allowed for only the most spectacular fruit to be included. Native-yeast fermentation followed in open-top containers with an average of 14 days on skins. The wine was aged for 16 months in 33% new French oak barrels before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Intense, yet fresh; fruity, yet spicy; brambly, yet juicy; immediate, yet lingering. The nose encompasses candied fruit, caramel notes, toasted almond, and baking spice. The palate is broad with lively acidity contrasting the confected bouquet quite nicely. Oozing with black cherry, blackberry, and cassis, savory nuances of leather and tar provide a striking balance, and the finish is long and juicy! There are not enough superlatives to describe this wine. We LOVE this Pinot!