94 Points – Wine Spectator
Deeply structured and velvety in texture, with expressive raspberry flavors accented by cinnamon, orange peel and rose petal tones as this builds richness and tension on the finish. Drink now through 2033. 729 cases made.
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92 Points – Old School
Elk Cove 2022 Old School Pinot Noir – This cuvée blends estate grown fruit from the Mount Richmond and Roosevelt vineyards. It’s full and balanced, with peppery tartness, firm acids, brambly berries and a big core of strawberry and red currant fruit. It builds to a full throttle mid-palate and holds tight, moving into a blocky, powerful, steady-state finish. It trails out with astringent touches of caramel and mocha coffee.
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93 Points – Clay Court
Elk Cove 2022 Clay Court Pinot Noir – Aromas of plum and chocolate pop up from the glass, leading into a focused, detailed young Pinot with tart raspberry and blood orange fruit. Moderate (usually 20%) new French oak puts a lightly toasty frame around it, perfectly balanced against the fruit and acid. This has the precision and depth to age well, as shown by the 2017 which I opened as a comparison.
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93 Points – Paul Gregutt
Elk Cove 2022 Mount Richmond Pinot Noir – The estate’s largest vineyard is also the most early ripening. Spicy and a bit earthy, this is a full-bodied blast of black fruits. It grabs hold in the mid-palate with good grip and lightly gritty tannins, settling in to those black fruit flavors with sandalwood highlights and a hint of licorice.
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94 Points – Paul Gregutt
The 2022 Pinot Noir Goodrich comes from marine sedimentary soils and was crafted with around 40% whole clusters. It has powerful, broody scents of red and black cherries, iron, mushroom powder and violet. The medium-bodied palate has a finely chalky texture and explosive, juicy fruit that lures you in for another taste. It becomes more complex and detailed as it opens in the glass and will benefit from 2-3 years in bottle.
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95 Points – Paul Gregutt
The 2023 Elk Cove Vineyards Five Mountain Pinot Noir is drawn from old vines rooted in Laurelwood soils, then shaped over 10 months in 20% new French oak, resulting in a wine that feels both expansive and finely controlled. Aromatically, it lifts from the glass with crushed boysenberry, red raspberry preserves, and vivid blood orange peel, followed by savory notes of forest floor, hoisin, and a faint floral lift that adds elegance. The palate carries a broad, full-bodied presence, delivering layers of spiced berry fruit, subtle anise tones, and earthy complexity that unfold gradually rather than all at once. Texture plays a central role here, with supple, satin-like tannins providing structure without weight. Bright, mouthwatering acidity keeps the wine energized and prevents the richness from tipping too far. As it fades, the finish stretches long and multi-dimensional, revealing lingering spice, soil-driven nuance, and a quiet echo of citrus zest. 729 cases were made. Highly recommended.
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96 Points – Paul Gregutt
Elk Cove 2022 La Bohème Pinot Noir – This old vine gem is from a vineyard planted in the mid-1980s with Pommard cuttings taken from the estate’s original vines. It has the sleek elegance and lightly savory details that old vines often reveal, scented with a weave of dried straw, blackberry jam and moist soils. It drinks and tastes like a mature wine from mature vines, and will reward decanting to completely unwrap the details. Better than ever on day three!
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96 Points – Paul Gregutt
Elk Cove 2022 Roosevelt Pinot Noir – Estate grown, 30-year-old vines are the exclusive source for this reserve. Named for the Roosevelt elk that also gave the winery its moniker, this is deeply flavorful and grounded in blackberries and black cherries with highlights of dark chocolate. The tannins are ripe and polished, more evident here than in the other cuvées. Having waited an extra year to review these wines I am more convinced than ever that they need that time; earlier assessments may be premature and incomplete.
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93 Points – Wine Spectator
Supple and expressive, with rich yet delicately layered flavors of raspberry, orange peel, cinnamon and toasty spices that linger on the plush finish. Drink now through 2033. 1,219 cases made.
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95 Points – International Wine Report
The 2023 Elk Cove Vineyards Goodrich Pinot Noir, sourced from 16-year-old vines, was crafted with 30% whole clusters and spent 10 months aging in 26% new French oak, resulting in a wine that feels lifted and finely tuned. The nose unfolds with fresh-picked raspberry, tangerine zest, dried florals, and a woodland character that leans toward evergreen needles and umami. On the palate, the wine glides with precision, delivering spiced red fruit layered over savory undertones and subtle bitterness that adds intrigue rather than weight. Fine-grained, mineral-driven tannins shape the finish, while vibrant acidity keeps the expression focused and long. 527 cases were made.
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95 Points – International Wine Report
The 2023 Elk Cove Vineyards Mount Richmond Pinot Noir spends 10 months resting in 26% new French oak, setting the stage for a wine that feels both commanding yet composed. Aromatically, it opens at a measured pace, revealing dark cherry compote, crushed marionberry, star anise, a touch of dried meatiness, and damp forest floor as the glass settles. The palate carries a broader, more forceful shape, layering dense fruit with earthy undertones and a pronounced savory streak. Firm, sand-textured tannins anchor the wine’s structure, while vibrant acidity threads through the core and propels a long finish marked by spice and tea leaf nuances. Pair this with slow-braised lamb shoulder finished with rosemary and black garlic, served over creamy polenta, where the wine’s depth, grip, and savory tones mirror the richness of the dish. 1,219 cases produced.
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94 Points – International Wine Report
The 2023 Elk Cove Vineyards Clay Court Pinot Noir opens with lifted scents of crushed red raspberry, ripe cherry skin, dried rose petals, and a warm mix of baking spice that immediately signals depth. Drawn from old vines rooted in volcanic soils and raised for 10 months in 30% new French oak, the wine spreads across the palate with savory red fruit intensity and a subtle earthy edge. Fine, tactile tannins give the structure a slightly gritty feel while brisk acidity keeps everything focused and energetic. The finish lingers with spiced red fruit and gentle herbal tones that echo long after the sip fades. 729 cases were made.
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90 Points – International Wine Report
The 2024 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Blanc from the Willamette Valley shows a pale straw hue edged with a faint silver sheen, opening with lifted scents of crisp Anjou pear, hints of citrus zest, and a subtle waxy nuance that recalls beeswax candles. On the palate, the texture turns silkier and more rounded, layering baked pear and gentle honey tones into a medium-bodied frame that feels smooth, softly weighted, and quietly satisfying.
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92 Points – International Wine Report
The 2024 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Gris from the Willamette Valley pours a pale straw color with a translucent rim, releasing gentle aromas of soft tropical fruit, spring wildflowers, and candied peach that feel polished and inviting. On the palate, yellow nectarine takes the lead alongside a faint touch of dried hay, carried by vibrant acidity through a medium-bodied frame that stretches gracefully into a long, refreshing finish.
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97 Points – International Wine Report
The 2023 Elk Cove Vineyards Five Mountain Pinot Noir is drawn from old vines rooted in Laurelwood soils, then shaped over 10 months in 20% new French oak, resulting in a wine that feels both expansive and finely controlled. Aromatically, it lifts from the glass with crushed boysenberry, red raspberry preserves, and vivid blood orange peel, followed by savory notes of forest floor, hoisin, and a faint floral lift that adds elegance. The palate carries a broad, full-bodied presence, delivering layers of spiced berry fruit, subtle anise tones, and earthy complexity that unfold gradually rather than all at once. Texture plays a central role here, with supple, satin-like tannins providing structure without weight. Bright, mouthwatering acidity keeps the wine energized and prevents the richness from tipping too far. As it fades, the finish stretches long and multi-dimensional, revealing lingering spice, soil-driven nuance, and a quiet echo of citrus zest. 729 cases were made. Highly recommended.
