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Cristaldi Scores

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Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

Vintage

Wine

Color

Rating

2021

Argot

Indigo Syrah

The Indigo Syrah from Sonoma Mountain is the most powerful expression in the lineup—akin to the Appellation Series, but dialed all the way up. Aged for 28 months in 100% new French oak, this bottling is the dark knight of the Syrahs: brooding, intense, yet lifted with precision. Supple blackberry fruit leads the charge, accented by violets, dark cherrywood, and deep brown baking spices. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, layered with dark cacao and salted, saline minerality that carries through an everlasting finish. Intense and muscular, yet refined by freshness and spice, this is a Syrah of commanding presence and exceptional tension.

2021

Argot

Rosetta Syrah

“When we’re assembling the blends for the vintage, we put together an über-blend,” says winemaker Justin Harmon. From that exercise come tiny-production bottlings—about 50 cases each—of Rosetta and Babel. These wines are set aside in neutral barrels, left to rest for an additional year in the quiet corners of the cellar before release. This wine leads with super high-toned dark berry fruit layered with cinnamon spice and floral lift. The palate has a cooler presence, with tremendous concentration of rich black fruit and finely knit, sinewy apple-skin tannins. Broad-shouldered yet focused, it’s held together by crunchy acidity that drives freshness and tension throughout. At this stage, it remains tightly coiled, with exceptional structure and energy. There’s no doubt this wine is still unwinding—but even now, it’s profoundly delicious and promises remarkable evolution with time.

2022

Argot

Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir

The Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is a Sonoma County appellation blend, divined from exceptional fruit sources, and for winemaker Justin Harmon he wants it to explode out of the glass. As Harmon puts it, “Every single one of our Pinots has a shot at becoming this cuvée.” The final blend is often anchored by Swan selection, followed by Calera and Clone 115. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak, the wine delivers on its promise—it practically explodes from the glass with expressive dark berry fruit, floral intensity, and spice. The palate is creamy and decadent, medium- to full-bodied, with lavish notes of clove, cardamom, and baking spice layered over crushed cacao nibs and violets. A hint of rose petal and crushed river stones adds further complexity. The finish is long, fruit-driven, and spiced-up, framed by juicy acidity that lifts the wine’s richness and keeps it fresh and vibrant.

2022

Argot

Indigo Syrah

The Indigo Syrah from Sonoma Mountain was aged for 28 months in 100% new French oak, and in 2022 this wine feels like an anomaly for the vintage—though perhaps not. Winemaker Justin Harmon tells me the grapes were still going through veraison during the 2022 heatwave, after which conditions cooled significantly. That sequence shows clearly in the glass. There is an impressive sense of coolness to the wine, with blue- and black-fruited character, beautifully perfumed rose petal and violet notes, all building into a full-bodied richness on the palate. The structure is framed by supple, soft, round, silky tannins, finishing with unctuous dark berry fruit and cocoa powder–like tannins, followed by a saline, wet-slate mineral note on the long finish. This is a dangerously drinkable wine—make sure you do not have to drive anywhere after pulling the cork.

2022

Argot

Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir

From the renowned Kanzler Vineyard, this Pinot Noir is strikingly floral and high-toned, with lifted aromatics of white pepper, blood orange, and rose petals. Medium-bodied with wonderful depth and concentration, the palate reveals ripe dark berry fruit framed by sinewy, velvety tannins. Layers of baking spice—clove in particular—interweave with crushed slate and a full-bodied richness. The finish is long, salty, and perfumed, leaving a lasting impression of elegance and power in equal measure.

2022

Argot

Le Rayon Vert Chardonnay

This Le Rayon Vert is a Barrel Select Cuvée that undergoes an extended élevage, spending six months in stainless steel following its time in oak prior to bottling. The nose is strikingly flinty and toasty, with layers of nectarine, kumquat, and orange peel with spicy ginger. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it offers intense grip and saline-acid tension that energizes the structure. The finish is long and warming, with a lingering note of apple pie spice that rounds out the wine’s vibrant core.

2022

Argot

Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay

The Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay is a study in elegance and aromatic complexity. Winemaker Justin Harmon has worked with this site since 2009, and the depth of familiarity shows in the wine’s finesse. It opens with captivating notes of black licorice, wild fennel, and tarragon, layered over salty citrus fruit and delicate apple blossom. There’s a distinctive herbal lift—like cold chamomile tea—that interplays beautifully with high-toned orchard fruit and expressive baking spices. The palate shows excellent concentration, anchored by a firm bed of juicy, crunchy acidity that carries through a long, vibrant finish.

2022

Argot

Steiner Vineyard Syrah

From vines on Sonoma Mountain at 1,100 feet, rooted in gray, ashen soils. The nose absolutely screams with crunchy black cherry fruit, violet pastille, rose petals, white pepper, and tobacco spices. Full-bodied with a suave texture and supple tannins, it delivers layers of tobacco leaf and cigar box, black truffle, and charcuterie. Super juicy blood orange notes carry through the everlasting finish, lifted by grippy acidity. Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak.

2022

Argot

Syrah

Absolutely explosive in its expression, this Syrah from Sonoma Mountain is both intensely perfumed and deliciously concentrated. Aged for 22 months in 25% new French oak, the wine reflects meticulous farming practices that are critical to taming Syrah’s natural vigor. As winemaker Justin notes, “Syrah should be farmed like Pinot—but it’s so vigorous you need a machete to the canopy, or the sun will never reach the fruit.” To ensure proper exposure, the vineyard is farmed down to one cluster per shoot, yielding around 2.5 tons per acre. The resulting wine bursts with aromas of violets, white pepper, blood orange, and cherry, framed by expressive pine forest notes. The palate is rich yet lifted, carrying all those vibrant elements through a lengthy, beautifully attractive finish.

2023

Argot

Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir

The Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is a Sonoma County appellation blend, drawn from exceptional fruit sources. As winemaker Justin Harmon puts it, “Every single one of our Pinots has a shot at becoming this cuvée.” The final blend is often anchored by Swan selection, as it is in 2023, and incorporates fruit from seven sites. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak, the wine delivers on its promise year after year. This is a dark, brooding, and expansive Pinot Noir, packed with rich, night-dark fruit and a mineral intensity so pronounced it might have a Texas oilman sniffing for liquid gold in the glass. Full-bodied and deeply expressive, it shows off-the-charts rose petal floral intensity alongside dark brown baking spices and Asian spice notes, with crushed river stone minerality adding further complexity. There is real tannic intensity here—powerful yet nicely integrated—ensuring graceful ageing, all driven by a vibrant core of bracing acidity.

2023

Argot

Chardonnay

This is the kind of Chardonnay I could drink from morning to morning. Bennett Valley, an ancient geological crater bordered to the west by Sonoma Mountain and the Petaluma Gap AVA, traps cold air as it spills over the mountain, creating a bowl-like effect that necessitates frost protection throughout the growing season. Fruit from this site was gently whole-cluster pressed and sent directly to barrel for fermentation with native yeasts, including roughly 25% new French oak. Aged for 16 months, the resulting wine is bright and focused on the nose, with inviting aromas of candied citrus peel, baking spices, toasted oak, and a hint of candied ginger. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it mirrors the aromatic complexity, with warming notes of vanilla, crushed Marcona almonds, and citrus peel carried through a lengthy, layered finish. Rich yet precise, this is a beautifully composed and texturally compelling wine.

2023

Argot

Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir

From the renowned Kanzler Vineyard, the 2023 Pinot Noir bursts with vivid freshness and tension, offering bright notes of ruby red grapefruit, blood orange, and savory sage. Aromatics of anise, mint, rose petal, and rose stem lend complexity and lift, while crisp, woody tannins provide structure. Juicy, spicy acidity laced with saline and pine forest character underscores the wine’s impeccable grip and precision. Compared to the softer, more supple 2022 vintage, the 2023 is taut and energetic, built for longevity. Enjoy the generosity of the 2022s now—by the boatload—while the 2023s continue to evolve toward their full potential.

2023

Argot

Le Rayon-Vert Chardonnay

Le Rayon Vert is a barrel-select cuvée that undergoes extended élevage, spending 14 months in oak followed by six months in stainless steel, with additional time in stainless steel prior to bottling. The wine is then held for a further six months before release. Fruit is sourced from three sites in Bennett Valley: two hillside vineyards and one valley-floor site. The aromatics are super bright and expressive, led by citrus peel and flinty minerality, with subtle toasted cedarwood and spicy ginger notes. On the palate, there is a radiant core of electric acidity and saline mineral tension that brings terrific focus and energy. As with the previous vintage, the finish is long and layered, marked by bright, crunchy apple spice and a lingering wet-slate mineral note.

2023

Argot

Pinot Noir

This wine bangs hard — In a great way! Sourced from both hillside and valley floor vineyards within the Sonoma Mountain AVA, this wine showcases striking vitality and spice-driven aromatics. The nose is bold and expressive, with notes of blood orange, grapefruit zest, fragrant pine forest, and wild underbrush. Medium-bodied on the palate, it unfolds with vibrant citrus tones and firm yet elongated velvety tannins. Rose petal lifts the lengthy, perfumed finish. Grapes were destemmed, then cluster- and berry-sorted before undergoing a seven-day cold soak in stainless steel with inactive yeasts naturally propagating. Fermentation began spontaneously as the must warmed, driven entirely by native yeasts. Following fermentation, precise press cuts separated free-run and press juice before barreling. The wine was aged for 16 months in 87% new French oak, resulting in a complex, richly textured expression of Sonoma Mountain fruit.

2023

Argot

Pixelated California Rosé Sparkling Wine

This is a Méthode Champenoise–style Grenache sparkling wine. It is fermented in large-format neutral oak casks and aged seven years en tirage, with late disgorgement and a 5 g/L dosage. The wine is delicious, showing crunchy, delicate mixed-berry fruit alongside toasted hazelnut nuances. Bright and precise, it features a persistent, finely textured mousse that builds richness across the palate, finishing with a zesty mid-palate lift and blood orange–driven acidity on the long, energetic finish.

2023

Argot

Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay

The 2023 Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay marks a textural departure from the 2022 vintage. Whereas the 2022 was softer and suppler, the 2023 is fresher, more dynamic, and longer on the palate, with focused tension and a deeper layering of candied ginger and rich brown baking spices—almost like brown sugar spice—unfolding along the finish. Sea spray minerality carries the day, complemented by lemony citrus and tangerine zest, alongside characteristic apple blossom and nutty, spiced nuances that emerge on the lingering finish. Captivating and mouth-watering.

2023

Argot

Syrah

This Syrah from Sonoma Mountain was aged for 22 months in 50% new French oak. The resulting wine bursts with aromas of violets, white pepper, blood orange, and cherry, framed by expressive pine forest notes. The palate is rich yet lifted, carrying those vibrant elements through a long, beautifully attractive finish. As it opens in the glass, the wine builds with additional layers of white pepper, cedarwood, and blackberry and black cherry fruit, accented by a hint of charcuterie. Powerful tannins and a dark slate–driven mineral character frame the wine, while blood orange notes, zesty acidity, and palpable tension keep everything fresh and focused. It feels super fresh and a bit coiled at this stage. Winemaker Justin Harmon notes, “Syrah should be farmed like Pinot—but it’s so vigorous you need a machete to the canopy, or the sun will never reach the fruit.” To ensure proper exposure, the vineyard is farmed down to one cluster per shoot, yielding around 2.5 tons per acre.

2024

Argot

Sauvignon Blanc

The winery’s inaugural Sauvignon Blanc, first produced in 2023, hails from the Steiner Vineyard in Bennett Valley—a late-ripening site where the valley converges with the slopes of Sonoma Mountain. Of the 50-acre parcel, roughly half is under vine, and this bottling comes from an Italian selection planted there. The fruit was pressed into tank and fermented at cool temperatures (around 60°F) on fine lees, then racked to neutral French oak barrels for five months prior to bottling. Super bright and citrus-driven, it offers striking sea spray minerality and aromatic lift. Medium-bodied, with layered notes of citrus, apricot, and white peach, the palate is framed by racy acidity and taut mineral tension. A vibrant, expressive debut with notable freshness and complexity.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Color

Rating

$

2021

Producer

Name

The Indigo Syrah from Sonoma Mountain is the most powerful expression in the lineup—akin to the Appellation Series, but dialed all the way up. Aged for 28 months in 100% new French oak, this bottling is the dark knight of the Syrahs: brooding, intense, yet lifted with precision. Supple blackberry fruit leads the charge, accented by violets, dark cherrywood, and deep brown baking spices. The palate is medium- to full-bodied, layered with dark cacao and salted, saline minerality that carries through an everlasting finish. Intense and muscular, yet refined by freshness and spice, this is a Syrah of commanding presence and exceptional tension.

2021

Producer

Name

“When we’re assembling the blends for the vintage, we put together an über-blend,” says winemaker Justin Harmon. From that exercise come tiny-production bottlings—about 50 cases each—of Rosetta and Babel. These wines are set aside in neutral barrels, left to rest for an additional year in the quiet corners of the cellar before release. This wine leads with super high-toned dark berry fruit layered with cinnamon spice and floral lift. The palate has a cooler presence, with tremendous concentration of rich black fruit and finely knit, sinewy apple-skin tannins. Broad-shouldered yet focused, it’s held together by crunchy acidity that drives freshness and tension throughout. At this stage, it remains tightly coiled, with exceptional structure and energy. There’s no doubt this wine is still unwinding—but even now, it’s profoundly delicious and promises remarkable evolution with time.

2022

Producer

Name

The Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is a Sonoma County appellation blend, divined from exceptional fruit sources, and for winemaker Justin Harmon he wants it to explode out of the glass. As Harmon puts it, “Every single one of our Pinots has a shot at becoming this cuvée.” The final blend is often anchored by Swan selection, followed by Calera and Clone 115. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak, the wine delivers on its promise—it practically explodes from the glass with expressive dark berry fruit, floral intensity, and spice. The palate is creamy and decadent, medium- to full-bodied, with lavish notes of clove, cardamom, and baking spice layered over crushed cacao nibs and violets. A hint of rose petal and crushed river stones adds further complexity. The finish is long, fruit-driven, and spiced-up, framed by juicy acidity that lifts the wine’s richness and keeps it fresh and vibrant.

2022

Producer

Name

The Indigo Syrah from Sonoma Mountain was aged for 28 months in 100% new French oak, and in 2022 this wine feels like an anomaly for the vintage—though perhaps not. Winemaker Justin Harmon tells me the grapes were still going through veraison during the 2022 heatwave, after which conditions cooled significantly. That sequence shows clearly in the glass. There is an impressive sense of coolness to the wine, with blue- and black-fruited character, beautifully perfumed rose petal and violet notes, all building into a full-bodied richness on the palate. The structure is framed by supple, soft, round, silky tannins, finishing with unctuous dark berry fruit and cocoa powder–like tannins, followed by a saline, wet-slate mineral note on the long finish. This is a dangerously drinkable wine—make sure you do not have to drive anywhere after pulling the cork.

2022

Producer

Name

From the renowned Kanzler Vineyard, this Pinot Noir is strikingly floral and high-toned, with lifted aromatics of white pepper, blood orange, and rose petals. Medium-bodied with wonderful depth and concentration, the palate reveals ripe dark berry fruit framed by sinewy, velvety tannins. Layers of baking spice—clove in particular—interweave with crushed slate and a full-bodied richness. The finish is long, salty, and perfumed, leaving a lasting impression of elegance and power in equal measure.

2022

Producer

Name

This Le Rayon Vert is a Barrel Select Cuvée that undergoes an extended élevage, spending six months in stainless steel following its time in oak prior to bottling. The nose is strikingly flinty and toasty, with layers of nectarine, kumquat, and orange peel with spicy ginger. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it offers intense grip and saline-acid tension that energizes the structure. The finish is long and warming, with a lingering note of apple pie spice that rounds out the wine’s vibrant core.

2022

Producer

Name

The Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay is a study in elegance and aromatic complexity. Winemaker Justin Harmon has worked with this site since 2009, and the depth of familiarity shows in the wine’s finesse. It opens with captivating notes of black licorice, wild fennel, and tarragon, layered over salty citrus fruit and delicate apple blossom. There’s a distinctive herbal lift—like cold chamomile tea—that interplays beautifully with high-toned orchard fruit and expressive baking spices. The palate shows excellent concentration, anchored by a firm bed of juicy, crunchy acidity that carries through a long, vibrant finish.

2022

Producer

Name

From vines on Sonoma Mountain at 1,100 feet, rooted in gray, ashen soils. The nose absolutely screams with crunchy black cherry fruit, violet pastille, rose petals, white pepper, and tobacco spices. Full-bodied with a suave texture and supple tannins, it delivers layers of tobacco leaf and cigar box, black truffle, and charcuterie. Super juicy blood orange notes carry through the everlasting finish, lifted by grippy acidity. Aged for 22 months in 100% new French oak.

2022

Producer

Name

Absolutely explosive in its expression, this Syrah from Sonoma Mountain is both intensely perfumed and deliciously concentrated. Aged for 22 months in 25% new French oak, the wine reflects meticulous farming practices that are critical to taming Syrah’s natural vigor. As winemaker Justin notes, “Syrah should be farmed like Pinot—but it’s so vigorous you need a machete to the canopy, or the sun will never reach the fruit.” To ensure proper exposure, the vineyard is farmed down to one cluster per shoot, yielding around 2.5 tons per acre. The resulting wine bursts with aromas of violets, white pepper, blood orange, and cherry, framed by expressive pine forest notes. The palate is rich yet lifted, carrying all those vibrant elements through a lengthy, beautifully attractive finish.

2023

Producer

Name

The Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir is a Sonoma County appellation blend, drawn from exceptional fruit sources. As winemaker Justin Harmon puts it, “Every single one of our Pinots has a shot at becoming this cuvée.” The final blend is often anchored by Swan selection, as it is in 2023, and incorporates fruit from seven sites. Fermented in stainless steel and aged for 22 months in 85% new French oak, the wine delivers on its promise year after year. This is a dark, brooding, and expansive Pinot Noir, packed with rich, night-dark fruit and a mineral intensity so pronounced it might have a Texas oilman sniffing for liquid gold in the glass. Full-bodied and deeply expressive, it shows off-the-charts rose petal floral intensity alongside dark brown baking spices and Asian spice notes, with crushed river stone minerality adding further complexity. There is real tannic intensity here—powerful yet nicely integrated—ensuring graceful ageing, all driven by a vibrant core of bracing acidity.

2023

Producer

Name

This is the kind of Chardonnay I could drink from morning to morning. Bennett Valley, an ancient geological crater bordered to the west by Sonoma Mountain and the Petaluma Gap AVA, traps cold air as it spills over the mountain, creating a bowl-like effect that necessitates frost protection throughout the growing season. Fruit from this site was gently whole-cluster pressed and sent directly to barrel for fermentation with native yeasts, including roughly 25% new French oak. Aged for 16 months, the resulting wine is bright and focused on the nose, with inviting aromas of candied citrus peel, baking spices, toasted oak, and a hint of candied ginger. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, it mirrors the aromatic complexity, with warming notes of vanilla, crushed Marcona almonds, and citrus peel carried through a lengthy, layered finish. Rich yet precise, this is a beautifully composed and texturally compelling wine.

2023

Producer

Name

From the renowned Kanzler Vineyard, the 2023 Pinot Noir bursts with vivid freshness and tension, offering bright notes of ruby red grapefruit, blood orange, and savory sage. Aromatics of anise, mint, rose petal, and rose stem lend complexity and lift, while crisp, woody tannins provide structure. Juicy, spicy acidity laced with saline and pine forest character underscores the wine’s impeccable grip and precision. Compared to the softer, more supple 2022 vintage, the 2023 is taut and energetic, built for longevity. Enjoy the generosity of the 2022s now—by the boatload—while the 2023s continue to evolve toward their full potential.

2023

Producer

Name

Le Rayon Vert is a barrel-select cuvée that undergoes extended élevage, spending 14 months in oak followed by six months in stainless steel, with additional time in stainless steel prior to bottling. The wine is then held for a further six months before release. Fruit is sourced from three sites in Bennett Valley: two hillside vineyards and one valley-floor site. The aromatics are super bright and expressive, led by citrus peel and flinty minerality, with subtle toasted cedarwood and spicy ginger notes. On the palate, there is a radiant core of electric acidity and saline mineral tension that brings terrific focus and energy. As with the previous vintage, the finish is long and layered, marked by bright, crunchy apple spice and a lingering wet-slate mineral note.

2023

Producer

Name

This wine bangs hard — In a great way! Sourced from both hillside and valley floor vineyards within the Sonoma Mountain AVA, this wine showcases striking vitality and spice-driven aromatics. The nose is bold and expressive, with notes of blood orange, grapefruit zest, fragrant pine forest, and wild underbrush. Medium-bodied on the palate, it unfolds with vibrant citrus tones and firm yet elongated velvety tannins. Rose petal lifts the lengthy, perfumed finish. Grapes were destemmed, then cluster- and berry-sorted before undergoing a seven-day cold soak in stainless steel with inactive yeasts naturally propagating. Fermentation began spontaneously as the must warmed, driven entirely by native yeasts. Following fermentation, precise press cuts separated free-run and press juice before barreling. The wine was aged for 16 months in 87% new French oak, resulting in a complex, richly textured expression of Sonoma Mountain fruit.

2023

Producer

Name

This is a Méthode Champenoise–style Grenache sparkling wine. It is fermented in large-format neutral oak casks and aged seven years en tirage, with late disgorgement and a 5 g/L dosage. The wine is delicious, showing crunchy, delicate mixed-berry fruit alongside toasted hazelnut nuances. Bright and precise, it features a persistent, finely textured mousse that builds richness across the palate, finishing with a zesty mid-palate lift and blood orange–driven acidity on the long, energetic finish.

2023

Producer

Name

The 2023 Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay marks a textural departure from the 2022 vintage. Whereas the 2022 was softer and suppler, the 2023 is fresher, more dynamic, and longer on the palate, with focused tension and a deeper layering of candied ginger and rich brown baking spices—almost like brown sugar spice—unfolding along the finish. Sea spray minerality carries the day, complemented by lemony citrus and tangerine zest, alongside characteristic apple blossom and nutty, spiced nuances that emerge on the lingering finish. Captivating and mouth-watering.

Vintage

Wine

Type

Rating

$

2021

2021 Argot Indigo Syrah

Still Wine

$$

2021

2021 Argot Rosetta Syrah

Still Wine

$$$

2022

2022 Argot Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Argot Indigo Syrah

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Argot Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Argot Le Rayon Vert Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Argot Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Argot Steiner Vineyard Syrah

Still Wine

$$

2022

2022 Argot Syrah

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Argot Bastard Tongue Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Argot Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Argot Kanzler Vineyard Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Argot Le Rayon-Vert Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Argot Pinot Noir

Still Wine

$$

2023

2023 Argot Pixelated California Rosé Sparkling Wine

Sparkling Wine

$$

2023

2023 Argot Simpatico Ranch Chardonnay

Still Wine

$$

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