Bubbles Fest 2022 – Jade Helm Recommends Elk Cove
“Elk Cove Vineyards 2017 Mount Richmond Brut ($70), bursting with floral notes and light melon” – Jade Helm
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94 Points – Owen Bargreen
“2019 Elk Cove ‘La Boheme’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Elk Cove ‘La Boheme’ is sourced from the La Boheme Vineyard which was planted with Estate Pommard plantings. The wine comes from vines aged 16-35 years, as this spent ten months in 32% new French oak prior to bottling in July 2020. Very fragrant with its red florals, the wine shows off Yakima cherry tones alongside loamy soils and shades of red currants aromatically. The palate is soft and round upon entry with beautiful red fruits that mingle with blood orange zest and stony/silty undertones. Finishing long, this beautiful wine will easily cellar well for another fifteen years.”
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92 Points – Owen Bargreen
“2019 Elk Cove ‘Clay Court’ Pinot Noir- The 2019 Elk Cove ‘Clay Court’ Pinot Noir is from vines set on a hillside in the Parrett Mountain region of the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The wine is crafted from Dijon clonal selections 115, 777 as well as Pommard clone Pinot Noir. A soft entry greets you with tart red fruits and citrus embers alongside shades of peat moss on the palate. Enjoy this great new wine over the next decade.”
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93 Points – Owen Bargreen
“The earthy aromatics really impress, alongside a core of black raspberry and black tea. This comes off ripe and plump once on the mouth, with red rose water and black truffle accents, as the length and viscosity add depth. Complex and delicious to savor now, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next twelve plus years.”
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91 Points – Owen Bargreen
Ripe Japanese pear and cantaloupe, with salty undertones, combine with a soft mousse and beautiful length on the palate. Really nice to enjoy now, this has some good aging potential based on both the weight and acidity.
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92 Points – Owen Bargreen
“2021 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc- The 2021 Elk Cove Pinot Blanc was sourced from vines aged up to 28 years as this was whole-cluster pressed and then aged in stainless steel tanks prior to bottling. Kiwi and starfruit tones collide with minerals and stony undertones on this downright delicious flavor profile. Nicely textured, this beautiful effort is best enjoyed over the next several years.”
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91 Points – Owen Bargreen
“The bright and well-balanced 2021 Pinot Gris by Elk Cove was sourced from their estate hillside vineyards, with some vines that date back to 1985. Aged in stainless steel, this unveils a soft mouthfeel with white grapefruit and honeydew melon flavors alongside shades of toasty brioche on the palate. Enjoy over the next few years while this beautiful freshness remains intact.”
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92 Points in Tasting Panel Magazine
“Fruit from estate hillside vineyards is whole-cluster pressed and cold-fermented in small, stainless-steel tanks. The freshness is apparent starting with a complex, voluptuous nose of green apple and just-squeezed oranges. Racy acidity works with hints of cashew, green tea, and pineapple.”
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Value Wine of the Week – Paul Gregutt
This outstanding effort uses all estate-grown grapes. It’s got mineral-drenched acids that bring mountain spring freshness to delicate strawberry fruit. The wine hits the tongue and you just have to smile it’s so good. Let it roll on through and you’ll find exceptional length and detail follow.
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One of Winemaker Adam Campbell’s Best
“I’ve been a fan of Elk Cove’s Pinot Blanc Willamette Valley for years, and the 2019 is one of winemaker Adam Campbell’s best, with bold honeysuckle and apricot aromas and a luscious yet snappy texture.” – Tim Fish
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95 Points – Vinous
Deep, brilliant ruby-red. Powerful, spice-accented cherry cola, boysenberry and black raspberry aromas show fine definition and take on vanilla and candied violet nuances with aeration. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse to the sweet red and blue fruit preserve, mocha and floral pastille flavors, which firm up steadily through the back half. Polished, even tannins lend shape to a strikingly long, smooth finish that echoes the floral and spice notes. One-third new French oak.
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94 Points – Vinous
Deep magenta. Vibrant, spice- and mineral-accented mulberry and raspberry scents show fine clarity and pick up hints of incense, topsoil and cola with air. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit, candied lavender and spicecake flavors that smoothly meld depth and vivacity. Fine-grained, even tannins lend gentle grip to an impressively long, smooth finish that echoes the blue fruit and floral notes with authority.
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94 Points – Vinous
“…bold scents of aniseed, earth, blackberries and blueberries with touches of bergamot. The medium-bodied palate is firm and juicy with pleasantly earthy fruits and a spicy finish.”
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93 Points – Vinous
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2019 La Bohème Pinot Noir a 93 point score in his review of Oregon Wines entitled…
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92 Points – Vinous
2019 is an excellent vintage for Elk Cove, despite whatever fire-related weather and smoke issues the Willamette Valley was suffering. Perhaps the northwest corner location was spared the smoke; in any event the estate-grown Pinots are fruit-driven, beautifully ripened, clean and textured and immediately delicious. The Mount Richmond adds a touch of leather to its blackberry fruit, along with refreshing minerality and a neat streak of espresso. Trailing out the finish is a note of clean straw. Drink now and through the middle of the decade.
