Elk Cove Willamette Pinot Noir 2006

It was very smooth but I felt it was a little dull.

October 2009

All of Elk Cove's delicate Pinot Noir fruit undergo the same meticulous vineyard management and gentle handling through our gravity flow system. Thus, arriving at the elegance, texture and luscious quality that are the hallmarks of exquisite Pinot Noirs.
Thevintage was a textbook growing season for the Willamette Valley. Long and moderate, it yielded Pinot Noir grapes with excellent balance and concentration. Elk Cove's Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is blended from several select vineyard sites comprised of Pommard and Dijon plant material. This Pinot Noir has great read more...character and flavor hinting of perfumed aromas with delicious cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate. Bottled unfined and unfiltered this wine has aging potential up to ten years with cool cellaring.    (hide)

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. -Wines & Spirits ...silky texture, toasty oak, ...good structure and balance; long finish. A rich, silky Pinot that's easy on the wallet too! 93 Points-Pinot Report All of Elk Cove's delicate Pinot Noir fruit undergoes the same meticulous vineyard management and gentle handling through our gravity flow system, thus achieving the elegance, read more...texture and luscious quality that are the hallmarks of exquisite Pinot Noirs. From the early pioneering days to now, our Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has remained the foundation of Elk Cove Vineyards. This Pinot Noir is blended from several select vineyard sites comprised of Pommard and Dijon plant material and shows the softest, most approachable drinking style Elk Cove makes. 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!    (hide)

winemaker's notes:
"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."
-Wines & Spirits

"...silky texture, toasty oak, ...good structure and balance; long finish. A rich, silky Pinot that's easy on the wallet too!" 93 Points-Pinot Report

All of Elk Cove's delicate Pinot Noir fruit undergoes the same meticulous vineyard read more...management and gentle handling through our gravity flow system, thus achieving the elegance, texture and luscious quality that are the hallmarks of exquisite Pinot Noirs. From the early pioneering days to now, our Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has remained the foundation of Elk Cove Vineyards. This Pinot Noir is blended from several select vineyard sites comprised of Pommard and Dijon plant material and shows the softest, most approachable drinking style Elk Cove makes.

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!    (hide)

December 2008

Wine & Spirits rating: 91

Wine Enthusiast rating: 90