Argent Reviews
2020
93/100 – Wine of the Week – The Real Review
Bob Campbell – Master of Wine
A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and cabernet franc. Bright, fresh and concentrated red with blackcurrant, cedar, blackberry cabernet sauvignon characters dominating. A gutsy and rather elegant wine that is approachable now but shows good development potential. 09 FEB 2023
2019
95/100 – Wine of the Week – The Real Review
Bob Campbell – Master of Wine
Julianne Brogden’s experience making wine for small, family-owned wineries in the Napa Valley and Margaret River has made its mark on her collection of seamless, textural Hawke’s Bay wines.
It’s a rich, textural cabernet sauvignon with cassis, black berry, cedar, black olive, white pepper and spicy oak flavours. A serious red with enough stuffing and complexity to guarantee it will age well, although it is surprisingly accessible now.
5 STARS – 2022 Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines
Wine Writer – Michael Cooper
The classy 2019 vintage (5*) is a rare red (871 bottles), grown in Hawke’s Bay, matured in French oak barrels, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Deeply coloured, it is mouthfilling, with rich blackcurrant, red berry and spice flavours, showing excellent ripeness and concentration, savoury notes adding complexity, supple tannins and a finely structured, lasting finish….
2018
94/100 The Real Review
Bob Campbell – Master of Wine
Tight, linear cabernet sauvignon with cassis, blackberry, cedar, black olive, and spicy oak flavours supported by a backbone of fine, dusty tannins. A youthful wine with serious cellar potential. 17 Sep 2020
2020–2026
4.5 STARS – 2021 Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wine
Michael Cooper – Wine Writer
The youthful 2018 vintage (4.5*) is a rare red (963 bottles), grown in Hawke’s Bay, matured for two years in French oak barrels (30 per cent new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Dark, fragrant and mouthfilling, it has strong, vibrant blackcurrant and spice flavours, a hint of herbs, fresh acidity and good tannin backbone. A very ageworthy red, it’s well worth cellaring to 2023+.
2013
New Zealand’s Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Tasted in 2015 by John Saker – Wine Writer – Stuff NZ
91+ eRobert Parker
Lisa Perotti-Brown – Master of Wine
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2013 Argent Cabernet Sauvignon has a profoundly perfumed nose of cassis, violets, dark chocolate, cigar boxes and menthol with hints of Provence herbs and lavender. Medium-bodied, the palate is taut and packed with black berry and herb flavors, supported by a solid backbone of grainy tannins and lively acid, finishing with great persistence.
5 STARS – 2013 Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines
Wine Writer – Michael Cooper
Deeply coloured, with a ripely fragrant bouquet. A refined, mouth-filling, generous red, it is a pure expression of Cabernet Sauvignon, with strong, vibrant blackcurrant, plum and spice flavours, fine-grained tannins, and excellent length.
2011
92+/100 -2014 Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
Lisa Perotti-Brown – Master of Wine
Deep garnet-purple in color, puts forward pronounced notes of cassis, pencil shavings and cedar at this very youthful stage with promising nuances of earth, spice box and bay leaves to follow. Medium-bodied, intensely fruited and finely crafted on the mouth, it offers commendable structure and generosity before finishing with great length.
4 STARS – 2013 Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines
Michael Cooper – Wine Writer
An elegant, youthful red, it is full-coloured and mouth-filling, with vibrant plum, spice, herb and blackcurrant flavours, showing good complexity, and supple tannins.
2010
91+/100 – 2014 Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
Master of Wine – Lisa Perotti- Brown
Deep garnet-purple coloured, the 2010 Argent opens with aromas of crushed blackcurrants, blackberries and ripe plums accented by nuances of cedar, mocha, dried Mediterranean herbs and pencil lead. Medium-bodied and packed with ripe blackberry and toasty oak flavours, it is well structured with a medium to firm level of grainy tannins and a good backbone of acid through the long finish with a pleasant, herbal lift.
4 STARS – 2013 Buyers Guide to New Zealand Wines
Wine Writer – Michael Cooper
Full and youthful in colour, with a fragrant, ripe, berryish bouquet, it is mouth-filling, sweet-fruited and savoury, with generous, plummy, spicy flavours, showing good complexity, fresh acidity and obvious potential.
95/100 – 2014 Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine
Bob Campbell – Master of Wine
Elegant Cabernet Sauvignon with classic blackberry/cassis and cedar flavours.
Silken- textured red with fine, soft tannins providing a gentle backbone. Supple wine with a surprisingly lengthy finish.
