Elk Cove Pinot Gris 2022
(Willamette Valley, Oregon) - [DM 93] [WS 91] [W&S 91] [WE 90]

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: 

93 Points - Decanter:
"Richly complex, this is not a simple sipping Pinot Gris. The aromatics are floral and fruit-centred, with plenty of jasmine, ripe pear and toasted almond. The palate is surprisingly rich and complex, with lanolin, beeswax and sweet stone fruit flavours. Textured and rich with candied ginger, honeyed pear and apricot to finish. This is a lot of vinous complexity for less than $20.

91 Points - Wine Spectator:
A lovely, delicate white, this blooms with fresh apricot blossom, nectarine and honeysuckle accents while gliding along the crisp finish.

91 Points - Wine & Spirits:
"Leading with a dramatically wheaty, nutty lees note, this is fresh and lifted on the palate. A crisp apple tang to its youthful flavors makes it lively and broad, for cress and poached whitefish."

90 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
Elk Cove is a standard bearer when it comes to Willamette Valley Pinot Gris. Their latest vintage features aromas of peach sorbet, a trace of pineapple and a crushed sprig of lemon balm. Energizing acidity drives a crisp texture and flavors like spearmint and a pear tart sprinkled with cinnamon.

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)