2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
Bright cherry and raspberry aromas complement notes of cinnamon and delicate violet, while the palate strikes a balance between juicy plum and boysenberry and complex, earthy cola and leather, finishing with chalky tannins and hints of crème brulée.
92 Points
“The 2021 Pinot Noir, made with about 15% whole clusters, has a medium ruby-purple color and pure scents of cranberries, baked rhubarb and allspice with wafts of forest floor, charcuterie and orange zest. The palate is light on its feet with generous, floral fruit, refreshing acidity and a soft, approachable frame, and it has a satisfying, spicy finish.”
– Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (May 2023)
91 Points
“This wine is beautifully balanced with velvety tannins and the silkiest texture this side of sateen bed sheets and spider webs. A strawberry lemonade aroma makes a nice one-two-three pinch with blackberries and talc. Dark cherry and dark chocolate flavors are flanked by rosemary and a meaty note similar to grilled steaks.”
– Wine Enthusiast (June, 2023)
90 Points
“A solid appellation wine, the dark ruby 2021 Pinot Noir Estate is ripe and sunny with aromas of blackberry, scorched earth, and violets. Full-bodied, with a silky texture, a stony mouthfeel, and notes of toasted cedar on the finish, it’s supple and attractive now and will drink well over the next 3-5 years.”
– Jeb Dunnuck (September, 2023)
91 Points
A dynamic red, with vivacious cherry and cranberry flavors highlighted by rose petal, orange peel and forest floor accents, which glide on the long, sleek finish.
– winespectator.com (August 14, 2023)
8 Outstanding Oregon Pinot Noirs at $35 or Less
Elk Cove winemaker Adam Campbell, son of founders Pat and Joe Campbell, makes a range of Pinot Noirs, but his dynamic Willamette Valley bottling is the most accessible in terms of price, case production and taste. It offers vivacious cranberry flavors with floral and citrus highlights. Campbell used grapes only from Elk Cove’s six estate vineyards and fermented the 2021 in small, open-top steel tanks before aging it for ten months in French oak.
– winespectator.com (August 14, 2023)
91 Points
“This draws from all six estate vineyards, and one sniff erases all the smoke and angst of the 2020 vintage. It’s fresh and fragrant with mixed berries, particularly flavors of just-picked marionberries, and lively with minerally acids. It spent 10 months in barrel, just long enough to pull itself together and add a gentle touch of caramel to the finish.”
– Paul Gregutt (March 2023)
20 Best Northwest Wines
“The hottest brand in the U.S. wine industry is Oregon pinot noir, and no one does it as well at such scale — 20,000 cases — as the Campbell family. Think of a slice of cherry pie sprinkled with allspice, and layers beyond.”
– The Seattle Times (November, 2022)
Double Gold
Our 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley was awarded a Double Gold by the Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition!
– Great Northwest Wine (October, 2022)
