Elk Cove Pinot Gris 2022
(Willamette Valley, Oregon)

Winemaker Notes:

In VINTAGE 2022 Mother Nature kept us on our toes with unusual weather at each end of the growing season. A wet, cold spring led into a long, temperate summer followed by a very sunny fall that brought us much-needed ripening.

What a surprise to have snowfall on April 11th, our region’s latest significant snow since 1942! Most of our vines had not yet leafed out and their tight woolly buds were well-protected. However, frost damage did mean a smaller crop at our Clay Court Vineyard. Other vineyard sites set a healthy crop, which we thinned heavily to increase intensity and encourage ripening. August and September were unseasonably warm, but the nights remained cool, helping us retain varietal character. Worries of late-season botrytis (rot) meant extra passes of hand-work in the vineyard pulling leaves to improve sunlight penetration and airflow. Thankfully, October welcomed a long string of sunny days and just exactly the hang-time and ripening we needed to bring grape sugar (brix) to ideal levels.

Harvest began in late September, with most fruit harvested during two very intense mid-October weeks. Many of our blocks achieved peak ripeness at the same time, so we are very thankful for our incredible crew for all of the early morning picking sessions in the vineyard and long days in the cellar. Expect complex, fruit-forward wines from this vintage.

Ratings & Reviews: 

88 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:

"Including a bit of Gewurztraminer and Muscat, the bright straw-colored 2022 Pinot Gris Estate is floral and fresh with aromas of melon, quince, and green almond. Juicy and ripe, with sweet melon fruit within a medium frame, it has a kiss of sweetness but remains dry for the most part. A fruity style for youthful drinking, it would stand up well to spicy foods such as Thai or Schezuan." - Audrey Frick (9/23)

94 Points - The Drunken Cyclist (2021 Vintage):
“...this wine was made by Adam Campbell at Elk Cove, one of my favorite winemakers in the Valley, and, well, whoa. Rich. Tree fruit. Pear. Peach. Apricot. Salinity. Mineral. Yowza. A whole lot going on even before the first sip. Happily, the palate does not disappoint. A wave of fruit is quickly followed by a near-bracing acidity, resulting in a beautifully balanced wine. It seems as though Adam has found the formula to incorporate the best aspects of both styles of Pinot Gris/Grigio, and that is a beautiful thing. Whoa. This has to be near the top of my favorite domestic Pinot Gris.” (May 2022)

93 Points - Decanter (2021 Vintage):
“This is an excellent Pinot Gris from one of the region’s standard-bearers. Made with 100% estate fruit that was whole-cluster-pressed into stainless steel tanks, the straw-coloured wine smells like white peaches and toasted coconut. Pear and peach flavours are joined by hazelnuts on the rich, full palate. The wine’s zippy acidity is like a surprise ending to a movie."