Elk Cove Pinot Blanc Willamette Valley 2021

See – the problem is with the Pinot Blanc like a lot of under the radar Oregon white wines, the cost to make the wine is just too high.

But a few weeks later a reprieve came in. The Pinot Blanc was named Wine Enthusiast’s #5 Wine of the Year and it was clear that the project would continue – margins be damned.

Since then – with less than 200 cases made – it’s been nearly impossible to secure an allocation especially since the consistent 92+ point scores the wine receives each year. So our only chance is to take what we can get and go out before the scores come in.

The newly released 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Blanc is so bright and refreshing, no doubt thanks to it being a product of 100% stainless steel. But in addition to the stony minerality, it also boasts great flavors of green apple, melon and white peach.

This white wine crushes it with food, mainly seafood but really is so stinking good on its own. I still look down at the glass from time to time and think of what an anomaly it is — one of my favorite Oregon wines is a white wine from lowly Gaston. Not to be missed for dry white wine lovers.