Argot 2019 Pinot Noir “Bastard Tongue” Sonoma County 94 Points

Inheriting an unbroken string of success — dating back to 2011 — the 2019 “Bastard Tongue” arrives fully formed and ready to impress. Always a blend from multiple “Grand-Cru” Pinot Noir vineyards, this iteration of “BT” was selected from three distinct sites, each making their own unique contribution of Sonoma County terroir to the wine’s character. Exploding forth on a tidal wave of high-toned, intense red and black fruits, this is a Pinot Noir that no stemware can contain. The palate’s profound depth is balanced by an inherent freshness, allowing the wine to crackle with brambly energy, while sustained by bass notes of underbrush, black tea, pie spice, and baker’s chocolate. A formidable rendition of “Bastard Tongue”, and a deserving successor to its 97-Point rated predecessor.

The Bastard Tongue, a blend of Swan, Pommard, and Dijon 115 clones, offers up dark raspberry, strawberry, and cherry notes that give the wine a dark-red-fruit character, but there are also loamy soil undertones, underbrush, spice box, and a rich, medium to full-bodied, fleshy mouthfeel. This is a complex Pinot Noir to drink now and over the next decade.

A selection of barrels displaying the magnificence of Sonoma County Pinot Noir — that specific balance of opulent fruit, inherent spice, and earthen notes. 2019’s Cuvee brings forth a significant emphasis on Sonoma’s oldest heritage selection, the Swan Clone. 

Winemaker Notes: “With its late start, 2019 was always destined to have a fast and furious harvest. Following 2018’s unprecedentedly late season, it came as quite a surprise when harvest 2019 kicked off even later in the year. These two vintages, however, could not have arrived at more different conclusions. While 2018’s harvest season was a glorious, top-down Sunday drive along the coast; 2019’s was an all-out drag race to the end (deploy the parachute and all!)… with this wine definitively exemplifying the spirit of its season. Pouring a deep-hued magenta, 2019’s BT is nothing short of full-tilt-boogie Pinot Noir. From the jump, a heady swirl of ripe raspberries and succulent blackberries explode from the glass. Textures caress the palate with other-worldly talent as the wine unfurls in a tsunami of red and black fruits, all while accompanied by the hallmark notes Bastard Tongue lovers have come to appreciate and expect — white flowers, forest floor, conifer tree, allspice, and that tell-tale Oriental plum sauce. A wine of unbridled intensity and power, seamless textures, and an unerring purity. A pinnacle Bastard Tongue that is the culmination of nearly a decade of producing this cuvée. We can not wait for you to experience this wine!”