2023 Argot ‘Bastard Tongue’ Pinot Noir Sonoma County

IWR97 The 2023 ‘Bastard Tongue’ is an utterly delicious Pinot Noir from Argot. It is both vibrant and expressive, with lifted aromas of raspberries, dark cherries and sweet cranberries woven together with notes of lavender, dried violets, baking spices, tea leaf, and mossy notes that remain persistent throughout. On the palate, it reveals a mouthwatering core of juicy red/dark fruit wrapped in supple tannins, with a gorgeous silky texture that speaks to its finesse. What sets this wine apart is its freshness—bright acidity energizes the layers of flavor, giving the wine a lively structure and a clean, extended finish. It’s a Pinot Noir that balances depth and elegance with remarkable complexity. This is already drinking excellent today, however should continue to drink beautifully for at least another decade.
Estate Notes: In 2023, an extravaganza of purple flowers lace the classic BT nose you have all come to know and love—explosive red fruits (distinctly strawberry), cool pine forest, loamy underbrush, five-spice (anise and fennel) and bakers chocolate. This wine marches down the palate with red-fleshed strawberries, Luxardo cherries and a hint of blood orange. An other-worldly texture envelopes this core of fruit, amplifying its vibrancy while swirling out a barrage of its complexities—raspberry, lilacs, sassafras, green tea, cinnamon and mocha—satisfyingly of a piece. As the finish spins into infinity, the fruit profile evolves from red to black, crescendoing on the palate’s persistent lift of sweet and floral spice notes. Magnificent, and not soon to be forgotten…