Roosevelt

Oregon Wine Report

2003: "Elk Cove’s Roosevelt is usually a big and dark fruited wine, and the 2003 vintage just seems to accentuate these characteristics. Though perhaps not my favored style of pinot noir, this nevertheless is one of the best of the vintage because of its ability to achieve grace as well as power while retaining a real sense of pinot noir varietal character." – Cole Danehower

Pinot Report

2005: 92 "...deep, silky texture, cherry flavor and toasty oak, moderate tannin; good structure and balance; long finish. Full, rich and intense, this Pinot needs an hour or so in the glass to open up." (February 15, 2008)

2003: 91 Smart Buy! "Big and intense …" (November 30, 2005)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

1999: 90+ "... loads of dark fruits, licorice and black currants... in its dense, highly structured character... It is intense, highly expressive and powerful..." – Pierre Rovani (July 31, 2001)

San Francisco Chronicle

2002: Panel's Picks. "The Chronicle's Wine Selection $30 and over." (July 31, 2004)

The Vine by Clive Coates MW

19 (20 point scale) "Very full colour. Lovely nose. Full and rich. Very good tannins. Lots of depth and class. This is most impressive. Full and rich on the palate too. Really Profound. Lots of dimension. Excellent black fruit succulence. It needs time. But everything is in place. Very fine indeed. 2006-2016."

The Wine Report

2002: 90 (October 31, 2004)

Wine & Spirits

2001: 91 "A wine that tastes of smoke and earth, elements that suggest great complexity for the future. Aromas of root vegetables, celeriac and beets, give way to black cherry scents, then earth and fruit combine in a verdant character that smoothes the finish. Intriguing now, it will improve in a year’s time; pair with forest mushrooms en papillote." (January 31, 2004)

Wine Enthusiast

2006: 91 "The Roosevelt vineyard bottling goes from strength to strength as it shows nuances of root, sassafras, black cherry, and cassis. This vintage is bigger and heavier than previous bottlings adding sweet fruit but taking away some leafy, herby flavors…you can’t deny that it’s a delicious bottle with power and structure." – Paul Gregutt (November 15, 2008)

2005: 91 Cellar Selection. "Planted in 1993, this four-acre, cool-climate vineyard had a relatively late harvest in 2005, which can, in the PNW, result in more European, vertically structured wines. This is wrapped up tight, and is far away from the sweet, succulent fruit of California Pinot Noir, but its pleasures are many and varied. Clear and bright, its berry-cherry fruit is shaded with leaf and earth. The tannins are firm but quite polished, and the flavors meld together seamlessly." – Paul Gregutt (April 1, 2008)

2004: 90 (June 30, 2007)

2002: 88 Buying Guide. (October 31, 2004)

2001: 90 "Soft and seductive, the nose is redolent of primary fruits, with leafy, earthy undertones. Good balance and focus, with a sense of gathering strength as it rolls down the throat. Elk Cove is showing significant improvement from vintage to vintage, and is quickly moving into Oregon's top ranks." – Paul Gregutt (October 31, 2003)

2000: 90 "Consistently the winery's finest Pinot, the Roosevelt simply outperforms the rest of its siblings. There's plenty of meat on these bones, with more than a hint of iron and mineral flavors. It is compact, clean and persistent. Like the rest of this brand's lineup, it needs more time to really show well." – Paul Gregutt (March 31, 2003)

Wine Spectator

2008: 93 Hot Wines. "Firm, focused and distinctive for the tangy edge to its mineralaccented cherry, backberry and charred meat flavors, melding easily into a single thrust on the complex and vivid finish. Best from 2011 through 2018." – Harvey Steiman (August 18, 2010)

2006: 92 "Firm, even a bit gritty in texture, but tremendously expressive, offering orange peel-accented cherry, plum, tar, and exotic speice flavors that just don't quit as they sail through the long, open-weave finish." – Harvey Steiman (August 1, 2008)

2005: 90 "Crisp around the edges, but soft and generous at the core, with pretty currant and plum fruit against hints of white pepper and slate, mingling nicely as the finish persists against refined tannins." – Harvey Steiman (November 30, 2007)

2004: 91 "Velvety, round and generous with its red plum, black currant and creamy spice flavors. A beautifully built, refined Pinot that lasts and lasts on the pointed, focused finish. Best from 2008 through 2014." (November 30, 2006)

2003: 91 "Seamless, harmonious, with pure plum and blueberry fruit wrapped in a veil of fine tannins, shaded beautifully with hints of apricot, cream and dusky spice. This one exudes class. Best from 2007 through 2015." (December 15, 2005)

2000: 89 "A distinctive wine, tasting of wild berries and herbs. Not a typical Pinot Noir, but effusive and intense on the open-grained finish. Drink now through 2005."

1998: 91 "A silky-textured beauty with pretty flavors of dark berry, carmel and olive that remain focused as the wine firms up on the finish." (September 1, 2000)

[Tanzer] International Wine Cellar

2008: 93 "Bright ruby-red. Youthful, pungent aromas of dark berry and cherry skin, spicecake, pipe tobacco and dried rose. Weighty and supple in texture, offering sweet dark fruit flavors and notes of candied flowers and smoky herbs. A suave note of mocha arrives on the finish, which leaves sweet vanilla bean and candied blackberry behind. Generous and impressively concentrated pinot with a lot of immediate appeal but the depth to age well. " – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2006: 91 "...Sexy aromas of blackberries, kirsch, cola, and potpourri. Deep red and dark berry flavors are framed by velvety tannins and given added spine by a gentle mineral quality. Finishes broad and sweet..." – Stephen Tanzer (May 1, 2009)

2004: 91 "Deep red. Energetic cherry and blackberry aromas are ripe but lively, with complicating baking spice, violet and vanilla accents. Silky and sweet, with vibrant crystallized dark berry flavors and suave tannins. The energetic, long finish throws off notes of candied red licorice and sexy mocha." (April 30, 2007)

2003: 90 "Powerful blackberry and cassis aromas complicated by sexy oak spices and sweet mocha. Lush and round…framed by subtle acids and dusty, fine-grained tannins. Finishes sweet and long, with a supple, velvety texture…" – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2006)