These are the people who help us show Elk Cove to the world and we are so grateful for all that they do!
DISTRIBUTOR RETREAT 2019!
In August 2019, rock star members of the trade came from across the US to learn about Elk Cove and the Willamette Valley with vineyard visits, wine tastings, expert panels and fantastic meals all hosted by the Elk Cove staff.
Campers: we hope you all had a fantastic time in Oregon and at Elk Cove. Please share your fantastic pics here or on IG/TW @elkcove using #elkcove Cheers! THANK YOU for the photos: Brittany Mott, Wine Specialist with RNDC Dani Heidle, Elk Cove National Sales Manager Amy Griffith, Elk Cove Winery Chef
Curious how soil affects wine? Our Soil Trilogy is a great way to experience three wines made with the same varietal, by the same winemaker, our own Adam Campbell, from grapes grown on each of the three primary soil types here in the northern Willamette Valley. We are very fortunate to farm Pinot Noir on each of the three major Willamette Valley soil types: Willakenzie (marine sedimentary), Laurelwood (windblown silt) and Jory (volcanic clay). Our wines that typify the expression of each soil type are:
La Bohème (Willakenzie/marine sediment)
Five Mountain (Laurelwood/windblown silt)
Clay Court (Jory/volcanic clay)
From early on, it was our goal to farm on this diversity of soil types so that we could take Elk Cove 100% estate. The final piece of this puzzle was our purchase of Clay Court Vineyard in 2009. Clay Court is now home to Elk Cove founders Pat and Joe Campbell – and the namesake tennis court.
There is a relationship between soil type, aromatics and fruit expression that is fascinating to explore. Our soil trilogy is your chance to find out first-hand and taste for yourself. Our Single Vineyard Wines are made in small runs, this offer is only available while supplies last.
Want to know more about our local geology and how it affects wines? Check out this article by local wine geologist and Portland State professor Scott Burns.
Our 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir was awarded 90 points by Wine Enthusiast! This is a great score for an Oregon Pinot Noir priced at around $30:
“A lovely, fruit-packed wine, this is made in a forward, friendly style and given the same care as the single-vineyard wines. Released a bit later, it has benefitted from both the excellent vintage and the extra bottle age. Mixed blueberry and blue plum fruit offers pleasing notes of coffee and chocolate, and retains a hint of anchoring minerality.” – Paul Gregutt
The review will post in the October 2019 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.
Clay Court Pinot Noir Five Mountain Pinot Noir Mount Richmond Pinot Noir Pinot Blanc Willamette Valley Pinot Gris Willamette Valley Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
We’ve been notified of some excellent reviews in the October 2019 issue of the magazine – all 90 points and above – including two Editors’ Choice designations! Our Pinot Blanc was awarded 92 points by Wine Enthusiast for the second year in a row, showing that our winemakers are on their game when it comes to this little-known varietal.
These review will post in the October 2019 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.
Our 2018 Pinot Blanc was an “Editor’s Choice” and awarded an excellent 92 points by Wine Enthusiast:
“Intense in juicy, succulent fruit, this opens with lovely botanical aromas and flavors of ripe lime, grapefruit and fresh apple. The flavors are layered and deep, lifted by refreshing minerality.” – Paul Gregutt
Our 2017 vintage of Pinot Blanc was also awarded 92 points and was ranked #5 in Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s Top 100 Wines of 2018! To reach 92 points for our subsequent vintage is a marker of our winemakers’ consistency with this cool-climate mineral sister to Pinot Gris.
This review will post in the October 2019 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.
Riesling Revival is a celebration of Oregon Riesling that doubles a poolside welcome to members of the wine trade on their first day of Oregon Pinot Camp.
Campers were revived, Oregon-style, with an official Pre-Oregon Pinot Camp pool party at Elk Cove owner/winemaker Adam Campbell’s home and the site of Elk Cove’s Five Mountain Vineyard. We celebrated and sampled the highest quality Riesling wines produced in the Willamette Valley.
Thank you Alexana, Brooks, Elk Cove, Hyland Estates, Ponzi, Trisaetum, Union Wine Co., and Van Duzer Vineyards, Lucky Strike, DJ Mike Willison & a very special thank you to the Reverend Riesling! Cheers to another successful revival of the world’s best white wine.
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2016 Roosevelt Pinot Noir a 94 point score in his review of Oregon Wines published this May- “Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness”.
“Bright magenta. Expressive black raspberry, cherry liqueur, savory herb and floral pastille scents are given depth by suggestions of vanilla and licorice. Offers palate-staining red/blue fruit flavors that show sharp delineation and energetic lift thanks to a core of smoky minerality. The balance of depth and finesse here is quite impressive. Strongly echoes the floral quality on a powerful, incisive finish that’s shaped by dusty, slow-building tannins.” – Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2016 Mount Richmond Pinot Noir a 93 point score in his review of Oregon Wines published this May- “Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness”.
“Limpid ruby. Expansive aromas of red and dark berry liqueur and cherry cola are complemented by a spicy topnote that gains volume as the wine opens up. Juicy, concentrated and supple in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry, mocha and floral pastille flavors and an exotic touch of five-spice powder. Nicely plays richness off vivacity and finishes very long and smooth, with subtle tannins lending shape and grip.” – Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2016 La Bohème Pinot Noir a 93 point score in his review of Oregon Wines published this May- “Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness”.
“Deep vivid red. Powerful dark berry, floral pastille and succulent herb aromas are lifted by a smoky mineral element and a hint of peppery spices. Chewy and tightly focused on entry and then fleshier in the midpalate, displaying appealingly sweet boysenberry, black raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. Well-concentrated but lively as well, showing excellent clarity and spicy thrust on a long, gently tannic finish. (made with 15% whole clusters)” – Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2016 Five Mountain Pinot Noir a 93 point score in his review of Oregon Wines published this May- “Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness”.
“Bright ruby-red. Highly perfumed, mineral- and spice-tinged aromas of raspberry, cherry cola and incense are complemented by a suave floral nuance. Seamless and energetic on the palate, offering juicy red fruit liqueur, spicecake and rose pastille flavors and a minerally quality that emerges on the back half. Finishes smooth, floral and impressively long, showing sharp delineation and fine-grained tannins that lend gentle grip.” – Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2016 Clay Court Pinot Noir a 92 point score in his review of Oregon Wines published this May- “Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness”.
“Deep bright red. Musky red berries, cherry pit, candied flowers and succulent herbs on the spice-tinged nose. Chewy and focused in the mouth, showing very good definition and mineral lift to the subtly sweet raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors. Puts on weight with air and finishes very long and precise, with a resonating floral note and sneaky, well-knit tannins.” – Josh Raynolds
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2016 Goodrich Pinot Noir 92 point score in his review of Oregon Wines published this May- “Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness”.
“Translucent ruby-red. Expansive red/blue fruit scents are complicated by suggestions of mocha, succulent herbs and candied rose. Smooth and fleshy in the mouth, offering lively black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that tighten up and become spicier on the back half. Fine-grained, harmonious tannins build steadily on a very long, floral-accented finish that echoes the spicy note.” – Josh Raynolds
Our 2015 Brut Rosé featured in Food & Wine Magazine’s article “8 Oregon Sparkling Wines That Rival Champagne”. Here’s what they had to say:
“TheWillamette Valley’sdistinctive climate and geology have made it renowned for Pinot Noir, and its Chardonnays can be equally impressive—two varieties that also happen to be the classic ingredients of great sparkling wine… Winemaker Adam Campbell is one of Oregon’s top Pinot talents. His skill shows through in this creamy, lightly toasty wine.” – Ray Isle, Food & Wine
Josh Raynolds of Antonio Galloni’s Vinous gave our 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir a 91 point score in his review of Oregon Wines published this May- “Oregon: An Embarrassment of Riches and Richness”.
“Brilliant ruby-red. Expressive red berry preserve, candied rose and baking spice scents show excellent clarity and lift. Fleshy but lively as well, offering sweet raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a hint of smokiness with air. Smoothly blends power and delicacy and finishes very long and spicy, with supple tannins sneaking in late. This is quite an impressive “basic” bottling of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.” – Josh Raynolds
We’re featuring Anne’s favorite Elk Cove wine – our 2016 Old Vines Pinot Noir – throughout the month of June 2019 in our tasting room and online. This wine is available exclusively from our tasting room and by calling us at 503-985-7760. Cheers!
“Who doesn’t love a classic? Our Old Vines block is comprised entirely of Pommard clones – one of the main clone types planted in the early days of Oregon wine country. This block of grapes is special to us because they were planted when Joe and Pat Campbell first began Elk Cove in the mid-1970s. How often do you have a chance to drink Oregon pinot noir more than 40 years in the making?
These vines produce wine that has beautiful black cherry and blackberry notes with a touch of earthiness and spice. The tannins are smooth and supple, and the elegance of this wine begs to be paired with dishes like Pacific Northwest salmon or pork tenderloin. We didn’t produce many cases of Old Vines, so don’t miss out!” – Anne Nguyen, Tasting Room Associate
When our family settled in Gaston and planted grapevines in 1974, most people in the Willamette Valley thought my folks were crazy. At the time no one had heard of a (good) Oregon wine.
My parents were fiercely independent, but soon they realized that they couldn’t make Oregon wine succeed all by themselves. They needed a strong community. And they shared a vision of making world-class Pinot Noir with other back-to-the-landers like the Ponzis and the Sokol Blossers. Together, these families built a famously collaborative winemaking region, gaining international recognition for Oregon wines along the way.
Now in the second generation, Elk Cove, Ponzi and Sokol Blosser remain family-owned and true to our roots. We share a history, but we also share a vision of the future as we look to the third generation.
The 2GV team from left to right: Maria Ponzi, Luisa Ponzi, Alison Sokol Blosser, Alex Sokol Blosser, Anna Campbell & Adam Campbell
My brother and I, together with Luisa and Maria Ponzi, Alex and Alison Sokol Blosser, created the 2GV project to explore this shared history and to plan for our shared future. We’ve created a collaborative Pinot Noir and a fascinating “hand vs land” seminar. Join us and get to know these Oregon Originals and the 2nd Generation Vintners project. Cheers!
Join 2GV, the 2nd Generation Vintners, for an informative wine tasting seminar.
We invite you to spend an afternoon with us in a tasting of “hand versus land” exploring the effects of vineyard site and winemaking style. Taste through the nine component wines and the final blend of the collaborative Pinot Noir made by the Elk Cove, Ponzi and Sokol Blosser siblings.
The collaborative winemaking team will guide you in this tasting while telling tales and answering your questions about growing up on the vineyard – and planning for the future of their Oregon original wineries.
$35 club, $50 general public
One tasting fee waived with a 2 bottle purchase
Echoing the same collaborative spirit of their parents, together we’ve blended the fruit of each original vineyard into one single expression of Pinot Noir, highlighting the unique sites and individual styles of the winemakers.
“There’s a deep-set, dark-cherry core that delivers on the nose and palate here with a sleek, fine-boned feel to the tannins that carry very even and long. Neatly detailed. Plenty of fresh and vibrant red cherries. Drink or hold.” – James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com uses a 100-point scale, with 90 points or more being outstanding.”It’s a wine I want to drink a glass of and is an outstanding purchase.” – James Suckling
“Impressive composure and detail in this rich and ripe pinot that offers up a wealth of very supple and succulent, spicy red and dark cherries, as well as a detailed, well-structured feel to the palate. The depth and poise is impressive. Drink or hold.” – James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com uses a 100-point scale, with 90 points or more being outstanding.”It’s a wine I want to drink a glass of and is an outstanding purchase.” – James Suckling
