93 Points – The Drunken Cyclist
“…this wine is lovely: great fruit (black cherry), floral (red rose), floral (violet), and earthy (well, earth). Incredibly balanced on the palate, this is a deliciously affordable Pinot. Whoa.”
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Best Bargain Oregon Pinot Noir
“The 2020 Elk Cove Vineyards Estate Willamette Valley is a very well-balanced, full-body pinot with lots of red fruits and violet notes.”
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94 Points – The Drunken Cyclist
“..this wine was made by Adam Campbell at Elk Cove, one of my favorite winemakers in the Valley, and, well, whoa. Rich. Tree fruit. Pear. Peach. Apricot. Salinity. Mineral. Yowza. A whole lot going on even before the first sip. Happily, the palate does not disappoint. A wave of fruit is quickly followed by a near-bracing acidity, resulting in a beautifully balanced wine. It seems as though Adam has found the formula to incorporate the best aspects of both styles of Pinot Gris/Grigio, and that is a beautiful thing. Whoa. This has to be near the top of my favorite domestic Pinot Gris.”
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Bud Break is Here!
“Bud break is the beginning of the countdown to harvest,” said Campbell, “while very exciting, it is also nerve-wracking in that we always have four to six weeks of worrying about frost—most seasons we get through this without any problems.” If the buds make it through those iffy early spring weather events, by mid-June they can flower, after which most winemakers breathe a slight sigh of relief.
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Founders’ Stories With David Adelsheim
Elk Cove co-founders Pat and Joe Campbell sat down with David Adelsheim to talk about the early days of Oregon wine and their motivations for starting one of the first 10 wineries in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Thank you to David Adelsheim for recording these stories!
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91 Points – Wine Review Online
“The 2020 vintage yielded a smaller than normal crop, and it was also a vintage that was threatened by smoke from wildfires. A melange of the winery’s 6 estate vineyards, this Estate Pinot apparently escaped all damage and in fact exudes nothing but charm and elegance.The wine is immediately appealing with its lovely aromas of cherry, raspberry and cloves. On the palate it is smooth, delicate and velvety, and the flavors emphasize youthful cherry fruit and lead to an intriguing earthy, oaky background. The finish is savory and juicy.”
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In America’s Family-Run Wineries, the Kids Are All Right
A casual tasting of vintage wines brings together veteran Oregon winemakers.
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Veteran Oregon Winemakers – Elk Cove
A casual tasting of vintage wines brings together veteran Oregon winemakers.
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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.”
