Elk Cove Pinot Noir "Five Mountain" 2022
(Willamette Valley, Oregon) - [WS 94] [WE 92] [DM 92] [WA 91]

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.

Vintage
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 handwork 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.

Vineyard
Elk Cove Vineyards purchased Five Mountain Vineyard in 2005 after leasing the site for several years. Previously it was exclusively used in our Willamette Valley blend, but after taking full control of the vineyard we have found certain lots worthy of Single Vineyard status. This historic vineyard was planted in 1978 by the Ponzi family. The original 4.2 acres of old vines are comprised of Pommard clone and the entire vineyard is set on a steep southeast slope in the Chehalem Mountains AVA. The site has a view of five volcanoes in the Cascade Range most widely seen from the Willamette Valley. This vineyard was an important element in the early Ponzi Reserve Pinots and has also been a Single Vineyard selection from a number of premier Oregon wineries over the years. Five Mountain is now sustainably farmed by Elk Cove Vineyards and comprises a total of 30 acres including the original old vine Pommard Pinot Noir, younger Dijon Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Muscat, Gewurztraminer and Riesling.

Winemaking
Fruit from Five Mountain is fermented in small, temperature controlled steel tanks, hand punched down twice daily, and barreled in French oak barrels. After 10 months of aging, only the barrels that are most representative of the Five Mountain profile are carefully blended to create a rich, earthy Oregon Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes
An abundant nose of blueberry compote, five spice and cedar is made more complex by notes of forest floor, browned butter, and sage. The earthy palate features black plum and dried blueberries among silky tannins and notes of caramel, rose petal and baking spice.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"Supple and handsomely structured, this Pinot is plum with polished raspberry and cherry flavors accented by cinnamon and orange peel. Finishes with fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2033. 729 cases made." - Tim Fish (Sep 2025)

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Walking through a garden after a much-needed summer rain might give you a sense of the Five Mountain's earthy pleasures. Additional aromas of sweet red raspberries and a walnut scone are merely icing on the earthy cake. This is a balanced wine, with gentle acidity and silky tannins accompanying flavors of tart pie cherries, cacao and cinnamon." - Michael Alberty (Nov 2024)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"From a historic site in the foothills of the Cascade Range and the Laurelwood District AVA, the aromas are soft and elegant, With sweet red berries, smoky rose petals, and notes of black tea. The palate is concentrated with ripe fruit, candied raspberries, black cherry flesh, and a finish of spicy black plums." – Clive Pursehouse (Jun 2024)

91 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2022 Pinot Noir Five Mountain, grown on Laurelwood soils, is scented of raspberry, red cherry jam, cinnamon, mushrooms and orange peel. The light-bodied palate is silky and refreshing with understated, floral fruit and a long, spicy finish." - Erin Brooks (Jul 2024)