Pike Road Pinot Oregon 22 - sister winery to Elk Cove  

In addition to sourcing from Elk Cove’s estate vineyards, Pike Road partners with other small family-owned farms across four of the region’s sub-AVAs, offering consumers a glimpse of the diversity of soils, climates, and elevations that define its terroir…The resulting wines tell the story of both their place of origin and the people who live and work there. In short, the Campbells have long been committed to producing best-in-class cool-climate wines… RACHEL BURKONS, tastingpanelmag.com

On the supremacy of Willamette Valley, Oregon: a place where the pinot noir ideals of finesse and grace can be consistently met, even in entry-level wines. ERIC ASIMOV

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Oregon pinot for $55 each in a 6 pack is unheard of. Especially when it comes from Elk Cove, one of the pioneers and shining lights of Oregon’s wine industry. This is the best value Willamette Valley pinot on the market.

Two descriptors come to mind when I taste premium Oregon pinot – opulence and backbone, and this pinot flaunts both. Seductive spices, black cherries and fresh moss aromas lure you in. A mesh of flesh and spice is corralled by silty tannins with raspberry licorice and cocoa powder accents. There’s a velvety richness to the texture which ignites the senses.

The Pike Road label was born when Elk Cove decided to use only estate grown fruit for their label – since their inception in 1974 they were sourcing fruit from both small local growers and their estate. Not wanting to leave their growers high and dry, the Pike Road label was created ‘to honor dedicated family-owned vineyards like our own growing cool climate wines here in the Willamette Valley.’

Grapes are grown by thoughtful farmers in Oregon’s northern Willamette Valley covering six unique sub-AVAs: Chehalem Mountains, Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Laurelwood, Tualatin Hills & Yamhill Carlton. It’s stating the obvious but the quality is off the charts - let’s not forget, this fruit used to go into their original wines.

There’s an Aussie at the helm too, winemaker Heather Perkins has been at Elk Cove since 2005. She works alongside the founders son, Adam Campbell. The winery is based in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range Mountains, it’s flanked by vineyards, hazelnut orchards and dairy farms. It’s idyllic countryside around here.

If there is a better value and quality Oregon pinot out there – I challenge thee to a pinot off. I’ve poured this blind a few times to friends – both guessed its price point was over $100. Needless to say when I told them the price and origin they bought a dozen.

If you need some opulence in your life, buy this. Like the phenomenal pinots of Elk Cove, there’s a bit more weight and plushness to this wine, complemented by a minerally vein. We’re offering it for $55 each in a 6 pack or $53 each in a dozen.

Cheers

Gabrielle Poy