Elk Cove Estate Pinot Gris 2024
(Willamette Valley, Oregon)

About the Winery:
Elk Cove Vineyards was founded in 1974 by Pat and Joe Campbell, making it one of Oregon's oldest wine producers. There were only about 200 acres of grapes planted at that time in Oregon. The estate vineyard was planted in a protected valley where the namesake Roosevelt elk migrate each spring. It was a family affair from the beginning with four children being the parents' first labor force. The first vintage was 1977. Joe made wine for the first twenty years, then worked together with son Adam on the 1995 and 1996 vintages, and Adam took over in 1997.

The winery's focus is on the Pinot "trilogy": Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, with a few lesser-known wines such as Muscat Ottonel and Riesling thrown in. Elk Cove Vineyards has produced single-vineyard Pinot Noir since 1979.

Vineyard
Our Pinot Gris is hand-harvested from our estate hillside vineyards in the northern Willamete Valley. Pinot Gris has long been a focus at Elk Cove – our Winery Estate Vineyard boasts some of the oldest Pinot Gris vines in Oregon, dating back to 1985. Three of our other estate vineyard sites are also planted with Pinot Gris, including 50 acres on steep-sloped Mount Richmond Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Planted in a high-density format, all our Pinot Gris undergoes shoot and crop thinning for low yields to maximize quality and concentration.

Winemaking
The Willamette Valley has the perfect climate for this delicate cool weather white wine. We have enough sunlight and warmth for ripening, but our cool evenings help retain varietal character and prevent over-ripening. We whole-cluster press our Pinot Gris grapes, then ferment the juice at very cool temperatures in small stainless steel tanks. This gentle treatment protects the aromatic qualities and enhances the natural richness of the Pinot Gris grapes, creating our most popular white wine.

Ratings & Reviews

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Always a standard bearer, the latest Pinot Gris from Elk Cove is excellent. Fresh-grated lemon zest and orange blossom aromas are accented by a wee bit of wet slate. The wine, which was whole-cluster pressed and cold fermented in small stainless steel tanks, possesses flavors ranging from grapefruit lightly sprinkled in sugar to a green apple gummy bear." - Michael Alberty (Nov 2024)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A Pinot Gris that shows a serious side with nice texture and fullness, it harkens to a time when serious Pinot Gris was de rigueur in the Willamette Valley. Ripe Bartlett pears, bruised apples, and a whisper of cardamom mark the aromatics, which follow with complex nutty notes. Far from simplistic, the fruit on this palate is ripe, nuanced, and layered. Apricot flesh mingles with honeyed peaches, ginger, and lemon pastry cream. Complexity at a great value." - Clive Pursehouse (Jun 2024)

91 Points - Wine Spectator:
"A white with verve and vibrancy, this features accents of orange blossoms, nectarine and cantaloupe that sail on the finish. Drink now. 16,019 cases made." - Tim Fish (Feb 2025)