Current
Releases available for sale
2006
Elke Vineyards Blue Diamond Pinot
Noir, $38 NEW
Donnelly Creek Vineyard, Anderson Valley • Winemaker: Tom Farella
The 2006 vintage reflects our Burgundian winemaking philosophy
combined with bright fruit characters and an earthy minerality typical of Anderson
Valley Pinot Noir. The growing season was difficult: first wet, then hot, and
then mild just before harvest. It gave us farmers fits but the resulting wine
has a wonderful perfume and a lovely density. The 2006 Blue Diamond
shows
depth
and
complexity with excellent balance, medium body, and a lengthy, velvety finish.
It holds
the promise
of
very great
things in 3-5 years of bottle-aging.
Alcohol:
14.1% Oak Aging: 11 months in 30% new. Production: 650 cases / 750 mL. Released
November 2007 to the trade. Price $38.00.
2006
Mary Elke Pinot Noir $26 NEW
The Mary Elke brand bottles special arrangements
I make with my fellow Anderson Valley vineyards, wineries, and winemakers.
The 2006 Mary Elke Pinot Noir is the wonderful result of such an
arrangement, a blend of my Donnelly Creek vineyard and another more
locally-famous Anderson Valley vineyard. This wine is made from 100%
Pinot Noir
composed
of 3 French clones that reflect the cool climate and soils of the
Anderson Valley. Rich fruit flavors combine with spicy elements and
tinged with a slight mid-palate tannin to produce a “bigger” style
Pinot Noir that many modern drinkers of Pinot Noir prefer.
Last
year's 05 Mary Elke Pinot Noir was delicious, too, but we couldn't
make enough. This year, because of the
blend, we bottled 565 cases. Alcohol: 14.8%. Aged for 10 months
in new and used oak barrels, then blended at bottling in August,
2007. Release Date: November 2007. Price: $26.00
2005
Mary Elke Chardonnay $18 NEW
The Mary Elke brand bottles special deals and arrangement
I make with the Anderson Valley vineyards, wineries, and winemakers.
This 2005 Chardonnay is from Anderson Valley vineyards that usually
get made into champagne but was allowed to hang on the vine for still
wine production.
It is clean, crisp and refreshing like the sparkler for which it
was intended, but has bright fruit characters, notably apple.
Not a “cocktail” Chardonnay,
this wine is best enjoyed with fish, white meats, and complex dishes
— which accounts why it is bought so much by my restaurant accounts.
It's been bottle-aged for
a year for the fruit to mature in the bottle and achieve a certain
finesse. Alcohol: 13.9% Release Date: November 2006 Production: 550
cases/750
mL. Price:
$18.00
2006
Mary Elke Rose of Pinot Noir $18
*
9.5 Points *
from Vinography.com (May 2007)
Made from
100% Pinot Noir from Elke's Donnelly Creek Vineyard in Anderson
Valley, this Rose was hand-crafted by Matt Rorick in Cuvaison's Custom
Crush
operations with consulting wine maker Spencer Graham of Elizabeth
Spencer wines. The Pinot Noir grapes are typically harvested
for sparkling wines, but there were eight tons not spoken for, so
we decided to use it for a Rose. What grapes they were! The
small
lot
production
really
shows
here, with
its delicate Pinot Noir flavors, bright fruit, and supremely
long finish for a Rose. Even Alder Yarrow at Vinography.com rated
it 95 points. Alcohol: 14.1%, Bottled in April of 2007 with a Production
of 350 cases/750ml. Price $18.00
Library
Wines (these are only available in my library flights here)
2005
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label (Limited
supplies) $45
Donnelly Creek Vineyard, Anderson Valley • Winemaker: Tom Farella
The 2005 Blue Diamond vintage is fantastic. It's already won a Gold Medal. Perfectly
balanced with strong berry and cherry, it is drinkable now but will age. Alcohol:
14.1% Oak Aging: 11 months in 30% new. Production: 550 cases / 750 mL. Released
November 2006 to the trade.
2005
Mary Elke Pinot Noir
Sold out, March 2007
2004
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label
Sold out, Dec 2006
2004
Elke Chardonnay
Sold out, Dec 2006
2003
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label.
Sold
out, Oct. 2006
2003
Elke Pinot Noir, Gold Label
Sold
out, Dec 2006
2002
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label
Sold
out, May
2005
2002
Elke Pinot Noir, Gold Label
Sold out, May 2005
2001
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label (Limited
supplies) $50
Donnelly Creek Vineyard, Anderson Valley • Winemaker:
Tom Farella
Anderson Valley experienced an exceptional and even growing season that
produced grapes with fully developed flavors and excellent structure. Alcohol:
13.8%; Oak Ageing:
11 months in Francois Freres, Bertranges 30% new; Total Acidity 0.64; Residual
Sugar: Dry; Release Date: Jan. 2004 Production: 840 cases. Price: $55
Pinot
Report, June 2004: “Pinot Report (Greg Walter) “…very
deep, intense spice and berry aromas; …lots of spice
and a touch of toasty oak; silky texture, great structure,
balance and a long finish. This is a delicious and yet
deep and layered Pinot with much to like.” Score
92”
2000
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label (Limited
supplies) $55
Donnelly Creek Vineyard, Anderson Valley• Winemaker:
Tom Farella
The aromas and flavors are of rich, ripe raspberry and strawberry fruit over
a distinct cedar and smoke spice backbone. Alcohol: 13.8%; Oak Aging: 11 months,
in Francois Freres, Bertranges 25% new; Total Acidity 0.63; Residual Sugar:
Dry;
Release Date: Nov. 2002; Production: 895 cases . Price: $60.
Pinot Report, April 2003: “This Pinot is all about elegance.”
1999
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label
Sold
out, April 2003
1998
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label (Limited
supplies) $60
Donnelly Creek Vineyard, Anderson Valley• Winemaker:
Tom Farella
Rich, ripe raspberry and strawberry fruit over a distinct
cedar and smoke spice backbone. Alcohol: 13.8; wild yeast
and malolactic
fermentation; barrel aged
for 11 months in French Burgundy barrels, 25% new. Bottled unfined and
unfiltered. 840 cases produced. Connoisseurs’ Guide,
July 2000: “One can enjoy it now or put it away for several years.” Price:
$60.
1997
Elke Pinot Noir, Blue Diamond Label (Limited supplies) $65
Donnelly Creek Vineyard, Anderson Valley• Winemaker:
Tom Farella
Strong berry, casis flavors over a slight spice
backbone. Alcohol: 14.18; wild yeast and malolactic fermentation; barrel aged
for 10 months in French Burgundy barrels, 20% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
