Willamette Valley

Gourmet

Recommended. (September 30, 2002)

Hilton Head Food & Wine Festival

2005: Gold Medal. (January 31, 2007)

Northwest Palate

2005: Two Clusters. "Gentle yet persistent scents of graham-spiced red fruits are layered with rose and cola accents. Juicy on the tongue, with hearty cherry and berry flavors backed by mouthwatering acidity, this lively wine offers plenty of punch…." (February 28, 2007)

Oregon Wine Awards

2007: Gold. "Consensus ~ Best in Class award." (March 28, 2009)

Oregon Wine Press

2007: "Value Picks. Among Elk Cove’s Pinots, this has a warm, round approachability that makes it immediately appealing. Well-balanced elements of fruit, acidity and youthful, yet unobtrusive tannins say you can consume now or keep a couple around for later." (November 15, 2009)

Pinot Report

2006: 93 "...silky texture, toasty oak, ...good structure and balance; long finish. A rich, silky Pinot that's easy on the wallet too!" (February 15, 2008)

2003: 91 Smart Buy! "Fruity and delicious..." (November 30, 2005)

2001: 91 Smart Buy! "... rich full flavors, lots of black cherry and spice flavors, hint of bacon and smoked meat adds complexity; good balance and a long finish. There's a lot to like in this Pinot—delicious flavors, great balance and a great price." (May 31, 2003)

2000: 89 "You don't find much $20 Oregon Pinots this good. Forward and bright, it still has a fresh, grapey quality to the fruit, which hits the palate crisp and spicy. Hints of juniper, earth and brown sugar add interest, and the wine retains its focus though a long, satisfying finish." (March 31, 2003)

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2007: "... Medium ruby-colored, it offers up a pleasing perfume of smoke, spice box, cherry and cranberry. Easy going and elegant on the palate, this tasty, well balanced effort can be enjoyed over the next 6 years." – Robert Parker (October 31, 2009)

2004: 88 "Sweet black fruits lightly dusted with oak are found in the aromatics of the 2004 Pinot Noir. A delightful, easygoing effort, it offers loads of red as well as black cherry fruit in its medium-bodied character. Delicate notes of oak spices make their way to the fore in this pretty wine’s soft finish. Drink it over the next 4 years." (June 30, 2006)

Sunset Magazine

2003: "You could pull this out with almost any food… consistently a good party wine." (January 31, 2006)

The Boston Globe

2001: Recommended. "Oregon’s Elk Cove makes wines that consistently exceed expectation in their price ranges. That’s why we love them… The 2001 Elk Cove Vineyards Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is a mine of earth, spice, dark red fruits, even a little gaminess; well-balanced and articulated." – Stephen Meuse (November 19, 2003)

The Seattle Times

2003: 3 Star Award. "Soft, open and wonderfully accessible, this broad, smooth Oregon wine shows a bit of that sweet California styling. The 2002 is still in town; the 2003 is due in a few weeks." – Paul Gregutt (April 29, 2005)

The Wine Report

2002: 88 (October 31, 2004)

Wine & Spirits

2008: 90 Best Buy. (October 1, 2010)

2007: 20th Annual Restaurant Poll. "In the MOST POPULAR PINOT NOIRS category, Elk Cove’s 2007 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ranked #24." (April 1, 2009)

2006: 91 "Richly ripe when first poured, this gathers focus with air. Its stalwart plum flavors develop a limpid clarity in the center, a pure fruit moment that gives way to a fleshy, savory finish. It has the savory layered notes to pair with coq au vin." – Patrick Comiskey (April 30, 2008)

Wine Enthusiast

2006: 90 "This opens right up into a lovely, expressive nose laden with cherry blossom, plum, vanilla, and butterscotch. The core of sweet raspberry and cherry holds steady into a moderately tannic finish, etched with some green tannins and dried herbs. Smooth, silky, and substantial..." (July 1, 2008)

2005: 90 "Good winemaking is evident here. This is clean and fresh, with light, appealing flavors of berry, cola and chocolate-covered espresso bean. The wine has a smooth, silky texture, and feels substantial without being fat or hot. It is certainly ageworthy and it wouldn’t surprise me if it lasted a decade or more. But tough to keep your hands off it right now." – Paul Gregutt (March 31, 2007)

2004: 89 "Fragrant, aromatic, open, and wonderfully accessible, this smells like fresh-cut roses and violets, and tastes of cherries and chocolate. It’s a broad, smooth effort that is open and drinking well right now." (August 31, 2006)

2003: 88 Buying Guide. (July 31, 2005)

2002: 86 Buying Guide. (October 31, 2004)

2001: 89 "Pure and inviting, with entirely typical and welcome aromas of cherry and smoky wood. The palate is mostly cherry fruit, with simple but appropriate pepper and oak shadings. The finish is just right in terms of flavor and feel, and while the wine is round enough, it retains an acid-based, streamlined character that makes it fine and dandy." – Michael Schachner (August 31, 2003)

Wine Press Northwest

2007: Excellent! (December 15, 2009)

2006: Outstanding! "Built to be approachable in its youth, and that's certainly the case. This opens with aromas of black cherries, vanilla, black tea and a hint of tobacco, followed by flavors of ripe cherries and bright raspberries. It's smooth and elegant from the entry to the finish and possesses great structure throughout." (April 1, 2008)

2000: Outstanding! "A Burgundian-style wine with aromas of black fruit, toasted oak and coffee beans. The huge, ripe fruit lasts through a lengthy finish." (June 30, 2002)

Wine Spectator

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)

[Tanzer] International Wine Cellar

2008: "Deep red with a bright rim. Pure but subdued aromas of blackcurrant, cherry pit and rose petal. Juicy and penetrating but quite tight, even austere, hinting at musky dark fruits and succulent herbs. This youthful, concentrated wine offers little immediate sweetness but unwinds nicely with an hour or so of aeration." – Josh Raynolds (July 1, 2010)

2004: 88 "… Fresh and energetic, with lively, nicely delineated cherry and red berry flavors. But this also possesses good weight and velvety texture. Finishes on a note of sweet tobacco." – Josh Raynolds (April 30, 2006)