“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.
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!
“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.”
A casual tasting of vintage wines brings together veteran Oregon winemakers.
“Elk Cove Vineyards 2017 Mount Richmond Brut ($70), bursting with floral notes and light melon” – Jade Helm
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
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.
“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.”
“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.”
Our 2022 Spring Catalog includes new releases, Elk Cove favorites, top-reviewed Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs and more
“Fruit from estate hillside vineyards is whole-cluster pressed and cold-fermented in small, stainless-steel tanks. The freshness is apparent starting with a complex, voluptuous nose of green apple and just-squeezed oranges. Racy acidity works with hints of cashew, green tea, and pineapple.”
Our 2022 Spring Catalog includes new releases, Elk Cove favorites, top-reviewed Single Vineyard Pinot Noirs and more
At Elk Cove we’re massive Thorns fans – and not just because of our proximity to Soccer City USA (Portland). We have a years-long connection to defender Kelli Hubly, a Thorns Football Club star, six-year professional soccer player and fan of our Clay Court Pinot Noir. Kelli recently came back to Elk Cove with wine…