Argot Wines
Much as the luxury Estates and Wineries of California are continuing to take to world by storm, the independent, artisan scene is thriving like never before. Undiscovered vineyards are being explored by a young generation of winemakers, and one of our favourite producers from this new-wave is Justin Harmon with his Argot Wines label. The wines have built a dedicated following in California, and the word is spreading quickly in the UK!
- Region: Sonoma & Anderson Valley
- Winery Location: Sonoma County
- Owner: Justin Harmon
- First Vintage: 2008
- Winemaker: Justin Harmon
Story
Justin Harmon is a self-taught winemaker who first experimented in his 20s at his Chicago home, using a home kit and flash-frozen grapes brought in by train from Napa! He then moved to California for his first harvest work in 2005, tutored by none other than Russell Bevan. The following year brought him back to California to participate in Sonoma County’s 2006 harvest as a full-fledged cellar hand. A second turn as cellar hand, during 2007’s harvest, afforded an opportunity to ferment and raise the single ton of Syrah grapes upon which Argot was founded. In 2008, he launched his first release of Argot Wines and has since become an expert in the Mountainside vineyards of Sonoma and Napa.
Vineyards
Justin sources his fruit from a line-up of magificent vineyards ether side of the Mayacamas Mountains. On the Sonoma side, the cool-climates of Sonoma Mountain and Bennet Valley form the core for his Pinots, Syrah, and Chardonnays, including the bracing Sympatico Ranch Vineyard for the latter. In Napa, the two high altitude sites are the famed Sugarloaf Moutain Vineyard in the far south of the Valley, and picturesque Sage Ridge Vineyard overlooking Pritchard Hill and Lake Hennessy. The newest addition is a site on the Valley Floor in eastern Oakville, which is the source for his 1555 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Winemaking
For the Chardonnays, Justin typically ages the wines for around 16 months is a mixture of 60% and 30%used/old French oak. His reds are usually aged for around 20 months, with the Pinot seeing around 60% new French oak, and 100% new for the Cabernets. Production levels are as low as 125 cases.
Latest arrivals from Argot Wines
2019 Argot, Indigo Syrah, Sonoma Mountain 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Syrah
Vintage production: 120 cases
Indigo is a selection from Justin's favourite Syrah terroir, with an emphasis on the Alban 1 clone, given an extended elevage in new, French oak... barriques for maximum impact and richness.
The vineyard is situated at 335m of elevation on a north-facing, gently-rolling hillside on the foothills of Sonoma Mountain. It is composed of a geological upheaval of ashy, moondust-like soils, littered with ancient seabed.
Sonoma Mountain’s ridgetops — demarcating the cool Sonoma Coast AVA, from the more moderate Sonoma Valley AVA — delivers an utterly unique expression of Syrah, distinct from that grown elsewhere in Sonoma County.
The 2019 spent 22 months French oak hogshead barrels (90% new).
£855 / Case£71.25 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £1,073.38 / Case, £89.45 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Argot, Indigo Syrah, Sonoma Mountain 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Syrah
Vintage production: 120 cases
Indigo is a selection from Justin's favourite Syrah terroir, with an emphasis on the Alban 1 clone, given an extended elevage in new, French oak... barriques for maximum impact and richness.
The vineyard is situated at 335m of elevation on a north-facing, gently-rolling hillside on the foothills of Sonoma Mountain. It is composed of a geological upheaval of ashy, moondust-like soils, littered with ancient seabed.
Sonoma Mountain’s ridgetops — demarcating the cool Sonoma Coast AVA, from the more moderate Sonoma Valley AVA — delivers an utterly unique expression of Syrah, distinct from that grown elsewhere in Sonoma County.
The 2019 spent 22 months French oak hogshead barrels (90% new).
£73 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £91.55 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Argot, 1555 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 12x75cl
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage production: 250 cases
The 1555 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is from the historic Bonny's Vineyard in Napa's Oakville AVA - the most revered sub-region in the... Valley. Situated adjacent to the Napa River riverbed, Cabernet Sauvignon vines thrive in these deep, gravel-rich soils. Roots plumb deep into the valley floor, while vine canopies harvest the consistent summer sunshine, conspiring to deliver unerringly perfect grapes.
The name is a nod to the vineyard's address on Oakville Cross Road, just a stone's throw from Opus One. It offers rare value for Oakville and shows lots of classic regional expression with bundles of dark fruit complemented with bags of minerality. The 2019 spent 22 months in French oak (66% new).
£1,515 / Case£126.25 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £1,865.38 / Case, £155.45 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days
2019 Argot, 1555 Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 1x75cl
Blend: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage production: 250 cases
The 1555 Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 is from the historic Bonny's Vineyard in Napa's Oakville AVA - the most revered sub-region in the... Valley. Situated adjacent to the Napa River riverbed, Cabernet Sauvignon vines thrive in these deep, gravel-rich soils. Roots plumb deep into the valley floor, while vine canopies harvest the consistent summer sunshine, conspiring to deliver unerringly perfect grapes.
The name is a nod to the vineyard's address on Oakville Cross Road, just a stone's throw from Opus One. It offers rare value for Oakville and shows lots of classic regional expression with bundles of dark fruit complemented with bags of minerality. The 2019 spent 22 months in French oak (66% new).
£128 / BottleDuty Status: In Bond ⋅ Price incl. of Duty & VAT: £157.55 / BottleAvailability: Immediate ⋅ ETA to UK address: 2-4 days