2017 Pinot Gris – Best of Class In San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2017 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Our 2017 Willamette Valley Pinot Gris has been honored as “Best of Class” in the largest competition of American wines in the world!
After receiving more than 6,800 entries from 35 states across the country, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition (SFCWC) has once again successfully narrowed thousands of wines down to an exclusive few.
A complete listing of the 2019 results, sort-able by price point and category, can be found at winejudging.com.
In the second week of January, over 60 skilled judges from a variety of fields including trade, education, media, retail and hospitality traveled to the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds in Sonoma County to determine the best wines in the USA. Utilizing an extensive process that divides the varietals into several categories and subcategories, the event gave the panels the chance to rate entries as Bronze, Silver, Gold, “Double Gold” (equivalent to a unanimous rating by all panel members) or Best of Class. Learn more about the competition here.
2017 Pinot Gris – 90 points from Wine Enthusiast
2017 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Our 2017 Pinot Gris received an excellent 90 point rating from Wine Enthusiast:
“Popular and widely available, this opens with a scent of guava, and follows with mixed fruit flavors of guava, apricot and bubblegum. It’s forward and palate-pleasing, leaving a light hint of mint at the finish.”- P.G.
This review was published in the October 2018 issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine and at winemag.com. According to Senior Tasting Director Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast blind tastes wines for review and rates their wines according to a 100 point scale:
Classic 98-100: The pinnacle of quality.
Superb 94-97: A great achievement.
Excellent 90-93: Highly recommended.
Very Good 87-89: Often good value; well recommended.
Good 83-86: Suitable for everyday consumption; often good value.
Acceptable 80-82: Can be employed in casual, less-critical circumstances.
Wines receiving a rating below 80 are not reviewed.
Pinot Gris Awarded 90 Points In Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
2017 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Our 2017 Pinot Gris has been honored with a 90 point score in Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate:
“The 2017 Pinot Gris has an open nose of Bosc pears, white peach and apricot with touches of spring blossoms and wet pebbles. Light to medium-bodied with good concentration of fresh fruits in the mouth, it offers crisp, refreshing acidity, finishing long with just a touch of phenolic texture.” –Erin Brooks
This review posted in 238 issue of magazine on August 31, 2018.
Pinot Gris Rules
2015 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Pinot Gris has been Oregon’s dominant white varietal since the year 2000, and it’s true for Elk Cove as well. Although we’ve recently started making Chardonnay again, Pinot Gris has long been our most popular white wine. Great Northwest Wine featured our 2015 Pinot Gris in their article “Pinot Gris rules Oregon’s white wine landscape” after giving the wine an “Excellent” rating:
“Year after year, one of Oregon’s largest productions of Pinot Gris also ranks among the best in the Pacific Northwest – thanks to the long-range devotion of the Campbell family and second-generation winemaker Adam Campbell. Some of their vines stem back to 1985, and the 50 acres established within Mount Richmond Vineyard stand among the largest in the North Willamette Valley. Their precise work presents this in a classic Oregon style by featuring orchard and citrus fruits rather than a tropical tone. Aromas of lemon and lime include dusty Bosc pear, honeydew melon and kiwi with clove. Its clean and crisp flavor profile brings flavors of starfruit and Gala apple, backed by melon, and finished with a nibble of pear skin.” – Andy Perdue
See the entire list of recommended Oregon Pinot Gris at greatnorthwestwine.com
2016 Pinot Gris – 90 points from Wine Enthusiast
2016 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Our 2016 Pinot Gris received an excellent 90 point rating from Wine Enthusiast.
“Fragrant and nicely detailed, this sends up clover and apple blossom scents. Apple-infused flavors follow, with touches of peach and spice.”- P.G.
This review was published in the October issue of Wine Enthusiast Magazine and at winemag.com. According to Senior Tasting Director Joe Czerwinski, Wine Enthusiast blind tastes wines for review and rates their wines according to a 100 point scale:
Classic 98-100: The pinnacle of quality.
Superb 94-97: A great achievement.
Excellent 90-93: Highly recommended.
Very Good 87-89: Often good value; well recommended.
Good 83-86: Suitable for everyday consumption; often good value.
Acceptable 80-82: Can be employed in casual, less-critical circumstances.
Wines receiving a rating below 80 are not reviewed.
100 Top Values of 2016
2015 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
We’re very pleased but not at all surprised to see our 2015 Pinot Gris show up on Wine Spectator’s prestigious list of the 100 Top Values of 2016. Our Pinot Gris has long been a favorite on lists of highly rated yet affordable white wines. We’re extra proud to see this wine represent Oregon in the category of Rich Whites, a category dominated by old world wines:
“Chardonnay tends to define this category of riper, fuller whites, yet there are many other wines from a diverse array of regions whose rich, lush flavors are nicely balanced by brightness, vibrancy and structure. Portuguese whites have come on particularly strong in recent years, showcasing the country’s indigenous grapes in distinctive versions, while New World examples such as Oregon Pinot Gris and South African Chenin Blanc are expanding the map.”
Spectator describes our 2015 Pinot Gris as “Vivid and expansive, this white features tangy pear and cantaloupe flavors that play against hints of lime.”
Check out the entire list of Top 100 Values at winespectator.com. There are some excellent wines here from wine regions all over the world, all of them rated at 88 points or higher and available for $20 or less.
90 Points & “Smart Buy” in Wine Spectator
2015 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Our 2015 Pinot Gris was awarded 90 points and listed as a “Smart Buy” in Wine Spectator Magazine.
“Vivid and expansive, with tangy pear and cantaloupe flavors that play against hints of lime, finishing with polish.” – Harvey Steiman
The wine was also featured in their “Savvy Shopper” guide – check out the handsome bottle shot on page 30. People are often surprised by the complexity of our Pinot Gris – we’re really proud of this wine and a lot of hard work (and beautiful fruit) goes into it. With a retail price of just $19 and distribution in all 50 states it’s been a favorite year after year in the media, but we’re still tickled when we get this kind of attention from a national magazine with the stature of Wine Spectator Magazine.
In addition to being published in their October 31st, 2016 issue, this review previewed in Wine Spectator Advance, a members-only publication that offers a sneak-peek at Wine Spectator’s top-rated selections.
We couldn’t be more proud of our winemakers.
91 Points & “Editors’ Choice” in Wine Enthusiast
2015 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Our 2015 Pinot Gris was awarded 91 points and listed as an “Editors’ Choice” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
“One of Oregon’s finest values in Pinot Gris, this offers big, juicy flavors of luscious apple and pear, backed with punchy citrus. The ample acidity tastes of lemon and grapefruit, and a notable wash of minerality comes up in the finish. The blend includes small percentages of Gewürztraminer and Muscat.” – Paul Gregutt
According to the Wine Enthusiast, a rating of 90-94 points equates to “Excellent. Extremely well made and highly recommended.” The review posted in the August 2016 issue of the magazine.
Great Northwest Wine Top 100
2014 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Each year Andy Perdue and Eric Degerman of Great Northwest Wine taste thousands of wines blind. At the end of each year they publish their top 100 wines and we are proud to announce our 2014 Pinot Gris made the list.
“Vintage after vintage, Adam Campbell consistently crafts one of the premier Pinot Gris in the Pacific Northwest, and this is no exception. This opens with aromas of stone fruit, lemon, lychee and spearmint, followed by lively flavors of orchard fruit, including white peach. This is a perfect seafood wine, especially crab or scallops.”
– Great Northwest Wine (December 28th, 2015)
Seattle Times’ 50 Best Wines of 2014
2014 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
This is especially good news because this list is based on blind tasting by the esteemed Andy Perdue of Great Northwest Wine:
“Yamhill County winemaker Adam Campbell continues to prove he is the finest pinot gris producer in the Northwest.” – Andy Perdue
92 Points & “Editor’s Choice” in Wine Enthusiast
2014 Pinot Gris Willamette Valley
Our 2014 Pinot Gris received an excellent 92 points and was designated an “Editor’s Choice” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
“Beautifully styled, this wine brings a solid blend of citrus, cucumber, tangerine and melon flavors. The length and balance are there for further aging, but the stunningly good flavors encourage near-term drinking. Editor’s Choice.” -Paul Gregutt
This review posted in their October, 2015 issue of the magazine and online here.
Gold Medal at the Great Northwest Wine Competition!
Our 2014 Pinot Gris won Gold at the 2015 annual Great Northwest Wine Competition. Over 1,000 wines from all over the Northwest were submitted to this blind tasting, including 34 Pinot Gris.
