1988 Elk Cove Pinot Noir Willamette Valley

All Pommard selection, own-rooted vines, that were 14 years old at the time, planted in marine sedimentary uplift soils at around 700 ft/213 m elevation. It is a treat to see this older vintage of Pinot from the original Elk Cove planting – one of the first in what is now considered the Yamhill Carlton AVA on the family’s La Boheme vineyard. While it seems advisable to drink this wine now, it also likely has several years left in bottle. The wine opens significantly with air and has not only still red-fruit presence, but also fresh acidity with fine firm, persistent tannins. A mix of red fruits and a back note of freshly oiled leather. Herbal notes move from dried to fresh-picked as the wine opens to air, and the wine overall gains freshness with air. A pleasantly light body still carries a complete presence and ultra-long finish. This Pinot is light on its feet, and even still dancey. Really a lovely wine. (ECB)