Wine Reviews > Pinot Noir

Wine Spectator

"Adam Campbell, owner of Elk Cove in the Willamette Valley, produces Pinot-family wines. His Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are standouts." (January 1, 2009)

Willamette Valley

2006: 89 "Ripe and focused, with black currant and blackberry flavors on a firm frame, shaded with savory notes that persist nicely on the well-formed finish. Drink now through 2012." – Harvey Steiman (September 30, 2008)

2003: 89 "A bit firmer than most, but the cherry, currant and spice flavors keep pouring out as the finish lingers beautifully." (June 15, 2005)

2002: 89 "Supple and appealing for its lovely balance, rich enough in texture to let the dark cherry and vaguely licoricelike flavors sing as they linger on the fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2010." (May 31, 2004)

2001: 88 "Lithe, supple style, if on the light side, with pretty raspberry and floral aromas and flavors, lingering nicely. Drink now through 2006." (December 15, 2003)

1998: 88 "Dense, tight and chewy, packed with peppery, anise-scented black cherry and currant flavors. Best from 2002 through 2008." (April 30, 2000)

Mt. Richmond

2008: 94 "Smooth and silky, delivering a root beer-like sassafras and anise character weaving through the blackberry, cherry, and spice flavors with transparency and vibrancy. Picks up some cream and tobacco as the finish lingers. Best from 2012 through 2018." – Harvey Steiman (May 19, 2010)

2006: 93 "Supple, round and generous. A luscious mouthful of cherry, blackberry, cream and espresso flavors linger seductively on the long, expressive finish. Harmonious and deftly balanced, this is a big wine that wears its flesh easily. Drink now through 2016." – Harvey Steiman (April 23, 2008)

2005: 88 "Supple, velvety and generous with its raspberry, cinnamon and nutmeg aromas and flavors that linger enticingly on the fine-grained finish…." – Harvey Steiman (May 15, 2007)

2003: 88 "The round, generous style has spicy, ripe plum and currant flavors, lingering nicely on the oak-accented finish.... " (June 15, 2005)

Five Mountain

2008: 90 "Tight, focused and minerally, with a stony component to the dark berry and spice flavors, all floating over a light, transparent structure... Best from 2012 through 2018." – Harvey Steiman (July 31, 2010)

2006: 90 "Bright and lively. A crisp-textured style that emphasizes raspberry and warm-rain-on-slate minerality in equal measure, finishing with snap. Best from 2009 through 2013." – Harvey Steiman (April 23, 2008)

La Bohème

2008: 91 "Light on its feet, swirling its ripe blueberry, currant and mineral flavors easily over-refined tannins and a fragile structure that lets the finish hover enticingly. Drink now through 2018." – Harvey Steiman (August 18, 2010)

2006: 93 "Velvety in texture and generous with its blue plum and black currant flavors, subtly weaving in notes of red meat and balsamic… the wine seems to pose on the finish, showing off its gifts." – Harvey Steiman (May 1, 2008)

2005: 89 "Smooth in texture, with jazzy citrus-accented cherry and spice flavors that remain vivid through the lively finish." – Harvey Steiman (August 31, 2007)

2004: 88 "Firm in texture, with chewy tannins around a lively core of blackberry and black pepper flavors, finishing with a fine balance. Best from 2008 through 2012." (November 30, 2006)

2003: 90 "Ripe and round, with a slightly gamy edge to the currant and plum character, an inviting wine that finishes with fine tannins, the flavors lingering impressively. Best from 2007 through 2011." (December 15, 2005)

2002: 85 "Has some moderately intense meat, cherry and peppery spice flavors on a structure that tugs at the cheeks.. Best after 2005." (May 31, 2004)

1998: 90 "Strives for delicacy and achieves a lovely balance of juicy berry flavors and almost citrusy acidity, with the flavors extending into a long and lively finish. Picks up some nice hints of exotic spice as the flavors unfold. Drink through 2008." (April 30, 2000)

1997: 88 "A smooth, inviting, pretty wine, with ripe cherry and spice flavors that linger on the gentle finish. Unusually generous for the vintage... Drink now through 2004." (November 15, 1999)

Windhill

2004: 90 "Smooth and round, with a peppery note swirling around the Syrah-like blackberry flavors, lingering on the refined finish. Drink now through 2010." (May 31, 2006)

2001: 90 "Bright and generous, elegantly balanced to show off its strawberry, cherry and vanilla-spice flavors, hinting at rose petal as the flavors linger effortlessly. Drink now through 2007." (December 15, 2003)

2000: 87 "Crisp and juicy, appealing for its bright strawberry and floral aromas and flavors, finishing tight and focused. Drink now through 2005."

1998: 90 "Polished and seductive, a seamless wine with lovely bayleaf-scented raspberry, red currant and exotic spice flavors mingling on a plush texture, finishing with a tingle of acidity. Drink now through 2007." (April 30, 2000)

Roosevelt

2008: 93 Hot Wines. "Firm, focused and distinctive for the tangy edge to its mineralaccented cherry, backberry and charred meat flavors, melding easily into a single thrust on the complex and vivid finish. Best from 2011 through 2018." – Harvey Steiman (August 18, 2010)

2006: 92 "Firm, even a bit gritty in texture, but tremendously expressive, offering orange peel-accented cherry, plum, tar, and exotic speice flavors that just don't quit as they sail through the long, open-weave finish." – Harvey Steiman (August 1, 2008)

2005: 90 "Crisp around the edges, but soft and generous at the core, with pretty currant and plum fruit against hints of white pepper and slate, mingling nicely as the finish persists against refined tannins." – Harvey Steiman (November 30, 2007)

2004: 91 "Velvety, round and generous with its red plum, black currant and creamy spice flavors. A beautifully built, refined Pinot that lasts and lasts on the pointed, focused finish. Best from 2008 through 2014." (November 30, 2006)

2003: 91 "Seamless, harmonious, with pure plum and blueberry fruit wrapped in a veil of fine tannins, shaded beautifully with hints of apricot, cream and dusky spice. This one exudes class. Best from 2007 through 2015." (December 15, 2005)

2000: 89 "A distinctive wine, tasting of wild berries and herbs. Not a typical Pinot Noir, but effusive and intense on the open-grained finish. Drink now through 2005."

1998: 91 "A silky-textured beauty with pretty flavors of dark berry, carmel and olive that remain focused as the wine firms up on the finish." (September 1, 2000)

Reserve

2008: 92 "Crisp in texture and tightly wound, with a strong mineral note running through the dark berry and licorice flavors, which linger easily on the beautifully refined finish. Drink now through 2015." – Harvey Steiman (August 18, 2010)

2006: 93 "Rich, ripe, and expressive, offering a mouthful of dark plum, golden raspberry and even a hint of apricot as the finish comes together and lingers against refined tannins. This is beautifully focused with depth and distinctiveness." – Harvey Steiman (August 1, 2008)

Estate

1997: 89 "Firm in texture, but there’s a pretty band of sweet blackberry and currant flavors running through the finely balanced finish. Feels like it can gain depth." (May 15, 1999)