2006 La Bohème

94 Points “…This Pinot has great depth and complexity, as well as a wonderful silkiness.”
– Pinot Report (February 15, 2008)

93 Points “Velvety in texture and generous with its blue plum and black currant flavors…”
– Wine Spectator (May 1, 2008)

Outstanding! “…this wine provides great balance and true elegance.”
– Wine Press Northwest (April 1, 2008)

91 Points “…it is finely sculpted, showcasing tart and tangy cranberry pomegranate, and rhubarb flavors with a finish that lands on a foundation of rock.”
– Wine Enthusiast (July 1, 2008)

92 Points “Ample, round and lavish in its oak…”
– Wine & Spirits (June 1, 2008)

91 Points “…it is firm, layered, and intense leading to a lengthy, fruit filled finish.”
– Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (November 1, 2008)

5 Stars. “Superb Pinot – best ever from Elk Cove…”
– Restaurant Wine (April 1, 2008)

Vintage

Vintage 2006 certainly has everyone offering up grand descriptions! “Everything ripened beautifully.” “This is a rarity.” “A warm, fully ripe vintage.” Fruit set was ideal with a mild Spring. Months that followed were warm and dry, with short-lived heat spikes and a few intermittent cooling rains in the fall, advancing fruit ripeness. Feelings abound in the valley that the 2006 vintage seems to be a combination of the 1999’s depth and the ripeness of 2003 (the only vintage warmer than 2006), but with better flavors and natural balance. The Pinot Noirs specifically seem to be very true to form with velvety tannins and a sexiness evocative of Pinot’s feminine side. Put this with softer, darker blue fruits that are more generous and it’s the makings of exceptional wines! In general, this vintage had us searching for negatives, finding only the six days of over 86 degrees in early harvest to fret over. But the results seem to be close to perfect!

Vineyard

We planted La Bohème Vineyard in 1985 by selecting the very best vines from our original Estate Pommard plantings. Pat and Joe Campbell named the vineyard after the family who sold them the property – and their favorite Puccini opera. This picturesque vineyard overlooks the winery and the coast range mountains and rises to 800 feet, making it one of the highest elevation vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley. La Bohème was planted using cuttings from vines selected for small cluster size and intense flavors, hallmarks of the world’s finest Pinot Noirs. We prune and cluster-thin La Bohème heavily to limit yields and to maximize ripening and flavor concentration.

Winemaking

All of Elk Cove’s delicate Pinot Noir fruit undergoes the same gentle handling through our gravity flow system. This allows us to achieve the elegance, texture and luscious quality that are the hallmarks of exquisite Pinot Noir.

Fruit from the La Bohème vineyard is fermented in small, temperature controlled steel tanks, hand punched down twice daily then aged for ten months in 50% new French oak. Our winemaking team then selects the very best barrels to represent the silky, lush flavor profile that exemplifies La Bohème pinot noir.

Viticultural & Enological Data

Vine Age 21 years
Yield 1.8 tons/acre
Harvest Sugars 26.2 Brix
pH 3.64
Vatting Fermentation in small open top steel fermenters. 10 months in French oak.
Cases Produced 980 Six-Bottle Cases

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2006 La Bohème

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