Dec 30, 2022
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Elke Vineyards
| Owner(s) | Mary Elke |
| Web site | www.elkevineyards.com |
| Link to this site |
Mary Elke began her farming career growing organic apples and making Mary Elke Apple Juice. Some people in California still know Mary for her apple juice instead of her wine. She still makes 50+ cases of organic apple juice a year. The famous Green's Restaurant in San Francisco serves Mary Elke's Organic Apple Juice.
Elke Vineyards are "growers", farming Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, and Merlot. Elke Vineyards began more than twenty years ago, and has grown fruit for many, many wineries over the years. The Elke family has been growing Pinot Noir grapes in the Anderson Valley since 1990. Chances are, you have tasted the wine from Elke Vineyards' grapes. Currently Elke grows fruit for Mumm Napa, Roederer Estate, Radio Coteau, Copain Wine Cellars, Londer Vineyards, Au Bon Climate, Mendocino Wine Company, Far Niente, ICI/La Bas, Franciscan, and Breggo Cellars.
Every year since 1997 some fruit is reserved for our the Elke wines, namely the Elke Vineyards Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. That wine was made by master winemaker Tom Farella, of Farella Vineyard beginning with its inception, but is crafted by Matt Evans in recent years. Its French Burgundian style has been winning converts for just as long. In addition, there is a Mary Elke Pinot Noir which is a consistently stellar value wine and a Rosé. The wines are sold on the website and thru retail stores.
Articles About Elke Vineyards
Along the Pinot Trail in California (8.45 11/1/2011)
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot (Pt I) (7.18 5/26/2009)
Anderson Noir Valley Pinot Festival: After the Smoke Clears (8.16 6/8/2010)
Anderson Noir Valley: Trade Tasting (9.8 6/24/2012)
Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival (9.26 6/23/2013)
Andersonoir Valley Pinot Noir Festival (8.40 6/30/2011)
Press Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (9.44 7/28/2014)
Press Tasting of Current Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Releases (10.34 7/24/2016)
Results of Exclusive Press Tasting of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir (Mendocino Fairgrounds) (11.6 7/8/2017)
Well-Bred Pinots Tasted Recently (6.24 4/30/2007)
Wineries in Anderson Valley and Mendocino Ridge* (6.60 6/9/2008)
Reviewed Wines
2014 Elke Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.61, 196 cases,
$N/A. 18th vintage under the “Blue Diamond” family label. 20-year-old vines rooted just outside town of
Boonville. 100% de-stemmed, brief cold soak, proprietary Burgundy yeast fermentation, aged 11 months in
Francois Frères oak barrels, 35% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. The nose
presents scents of purple grape, black raspberry and spice. Light to mid weight in style, with an array of purple
fruit flavors encased in supportive tannins, and finishing modestly with good polish.
Score: 89.
Reviewed July 8, 2017
ARTICLE »
2013 Elke Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc.,150 cases, $36. Five
clones, unfined and unfiltered. Winemaker is Matt Evans.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the
glass. Aromas of black cherry and pine needle in this forested tone wine. Light to mid weight flavors
of cherry and cranberry with an underlying earthy, woody thread. Balanced and juicy, with a modest
finish. More expressive and outgoing the following day when tasted from a previously opened and
re-corked bottle.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 24, 2016
ARTICLE »
2011 Elke Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 196 cases, $36. Release August 2014. 100% de-stemmed,
pressed with a basket press, aged 11 months in 35% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Appealing scents of red cherry, raspberry and spice. Bright,
crisp and vivid red cherry and berry fruits with a deft touch of herbs and oak. Lighter in this vintage but very
elegant and charming.
Score: 91.
Reviewed July 28, 2014
ARTICLE »
2010 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.64,
500 cases, $34. Released January 2013. 14th vintage of this wine bottled under the family “Blue Diamond.”
20-year-old vines located just outside the town of Boonville. Five clones cane-pruned and trained using a
combination of double-guyot (traditional style of Burgundy) and arc-coeur (lesser known style of Alsace). 100%
de-stemmed, inoculated, aged 11 months in 35% new Francois Frères oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose draws you into the glass with effusive aromas of
dark cherries and berries, spice and oak. Impressive attack of black cherry and black raspberry fruits
embracing toast and vanilla-infused oak, balanced tannins and a finish that makes you sit up and take notice.
Gets better over time in the glass. Very good.
Reviewed June 23, 2013
ARTICLE »
2009 Mary Elke Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $18.
·
Moderately deep reddish-purple
color in the glass. Lovely mix of berry and candied black cherry aromas with added subtle notes of
dried rose petals and potpourri. Very tasty with an impressive mid palate attack of spicy black cherry
and Hoison sauce flavor, offering some persistence of cherry fruit on the dry finish. Medium-weighted,
sweet, ripe and forward, with supple tannins and supporting acidity. Impressive wine at this
price point. Very good.
Reviewed November 2, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.9, TA 0.65,
840 cases, $34. 5 clones of Pinot Noir are grown in this vineyard located just outside the town of Boonville.
Aged 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Unfiltered.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color with a slight
haze in the glass. Well-perfumed with vibrant scents of dark stone fruits, leather and oak. Very smoothly
textured on the palate with a tasty core of plums, black raspberries and a brewed tea note. Well-proportioned
t n’ a. Still a Lolita in need of a few years of cellaring. Very good.
Reviewed July 1, 2011
ARTICLE »
2009 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.90, TA 0.65,
840 cases, $34, released May 1, 2011. 100% de-stemmed, inoculated primary and native secondary
fermentations. Aged 11 months in 30% new French oak.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass.
Cherry and herbal oak aromas with a little horse saddle funk (? Brett). Flavors of plum, black cherry and herbs
with mild, firm tannins and a soft mouth feel. Good.
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2007 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.90, 740
cases, $34. Released in the spring 2009. This vineyard is located just outside the town of Boonville and is
planted to five clones of Pinot Noir. Aged 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
This wine has aged nicely in the bottle since tasted last year. Lovely oak-kissed berry fruit with a hint of
barnyard. Savory dark red berry fruits are featured with a silky texture and a grip of tannin on the pleasing
finish. Very good.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2006 Elke Vineyards Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 650 cases, $38.
·
This is a beautifully balanced wine of
great interest and charm. The nose offers concord grape, barnyard and hay
aromas. Showy dark fruits are encased in earth and mushroom flavors which are
filled out with a deft touch of oak. The wine grows in the glass, offering a blanket
of fruit but an appealing restraint that leads to softness and finesse.
Reviewed June 9, 2008
ARTICLE »
2006 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc.,
650 cases, $38. 100% de-stemmed, inoculated with Burgundy yeast, 11 months
in 30% new French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. Released in November
2007.
·
Moderately light in color. Complex aromatic profile of black cherries,
barnyard, chocolate and root beer. Very tasty dark cherry and berry fruit flavors
blanket the palate with some underlying earthiness and a subtle touch of oak.
Clean and pure with soft tannins and admirable finesse. A very good wine that will
continue to charm for years to come.
Reviewed May 26, 2009
ARTICLE »
2005 Elke Vineyards Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 550 cases, $30.
·
Ripe strawberries are pronounced in the nose
and on the palate. Pleasing mid palate elegance, persistence and length with dusty
tannins and herbs on the finish. Burgundian-styled and very likeable.
Reviewed April 30, 2007
ARTICLE »
2014 Elke Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.61, 196 cases, $N/A. 18th vintage under the “Blue Diamond” family label. 20-year-old vines rooted just outside town of Boonville. 100% de-stemmed, brief cold soak, proprietary Burgundy yeast fermentation, aged 11 months in Francois Frères oak barrels, 35% new. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Light garnet color in the glass. The nose presents scents of purple grape, black raspberry and spice. Light to mid weight in style, with an array of purple fruit flavors encased in supportive tannins, and finishing modestly with good polish. Score: 89. Reviewed July 8, 2017 ARTICLE »
2013 Elke Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc.,150 cases, $36. Five clones, unfined and unfiltered. Winemaker is Matt Evans. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Aromas of black cherry and pine needle in this forested tone wine. Light to mid weight flavors of cherry and cranberry with an underlying earthy, woody thread. Balanced and juicy, with a modest finish. More expressive and outgoing the following day when tasted from a previously opened and re-corked bottle. Score: 90. Reviewed July 24, 2016 ARTICLE »
2011 Elke Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 196 cases, $36. Release August 2014. 100% de-stemmed, pressed with a basket press, aged 11 months in 35% new French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately light reddish purple color in the glass. Appealing scents of red cherry, raspberry and spice. Bright, crisp and vivid red cherry and berry fruits with a deft touch of herbs and oak. Lighter in this vintage but very elegant and charming. Score: 91. Reviewed July 28, 2014 ARTICLE »
2010 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.70, TA 0.64, 500 cases, $34. Released January 2013. 14th vintage of this wine bottled under the family “Blue Diamond.” 20-year-old vines located just outside the town of Boonville. Five clones cane-pruned and trained using a combination of double-guyot (traditional style of Burgundy) and arc-coeur (lesser known style of Alsace). 100% de-stemmed, inoculated, aged 11 months in 35% new Francois Frères oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose draws you into the glass with effusive aromas of dark cherries and berries, spice and oak. Impressive attack of black cherry and black raspberry fruits embracing toast and vanilla-infused oak, balanced tannins and a finish that makes you sit up and take notice. Gets better over time in the glass. Very good. Reviewed June 23, 2013 ARTICLE »
2009 Mary Elke Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $18. · Moderately deep reddish-purple color in the glass. Lovely mix of berry and candied black cherry aromas with added subtle notes of dried rose petals and potpourri. Very tasty with an impressive mid palate attack of spicy black cherry and Hoison sauce flavor, offering some persistence of cherry fruit on the dry finish. Medium-weighted, sweet, ripe and forward, with supple tannins and supporting acidity. Impressive wine at this price point. Very good. Reviewed November 2, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.9, TA 0.65, 840 cases, $34. 5 clones of Pinot Noir are grown in this vineyard located just outside the town of Boonville. Aged 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Unfiltered. · Moderately light reddish-purple color with a slight haze in the glass. Well-perfumed with vibrant scents of dark stone fruits, leather and oak. Very smoothly textured on the palate with a tasty core of plums, black raspberries and a brewed tea note. Well-proportioned t n’ a. Still a Lolita in need of a few years of cellaring. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 ARTICLE »
2009 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.90, TA 0.65, 840 cases, $34, released May 1, 2011. 100% de-stemmed, inoculated primary and native secondary fermentations. Aged 11 months in 30% new French oak. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Cherry and herbal oak aromas with a little horse saddle funk (? Brett). Flavors of plum, black cherry and herbs with mild, firm tannins and a soft mouth feel. Good. Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2007 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.90, 740 cases, $34. Released in the spring 2009. This vineyard is located just outside the town of Boonville and is planted to five clones of Pinot Noir. Aged 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered. · This wine has aged nicely in the bottle since tasted last year. Lovely oak-kissed berry fruit with a hint of barnyard. Savory dark red berry fruits are featured with a silky texture and a grip of tannin on the pleasing finish. Very good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »
2006 Elke Vineyards Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., 650 cases, $38. · This is a beautifully balanced wine of great interest and charm. The nose offers concord grape, barnyard and hay aromas. Showy dark fruits are encased in earth and mushroom flavors which are filled out with a deft touch of oak. The wine grows in the glass, offering a blanket of fruit but an appealing restraint that leads to softness and finesse. Reviewed June 9, 2008 ARTICLE »
2006 Elke Vineyards Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., 650 cases, $38. 100% de-stemmed, inoculated with Burgundy yeast, 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels, unfined and unfiltered. Released in November 2007. · Moderately light in color. Complex aromatic profile of black cherries, barnyard, chocolate and root beer. Very tasty dark cherry and berry fruit flavors blanket the palate with some underlying earthiness and a subtle touch of oak. Clean and pure with soft tannins and admirable finesse. A very good wine that will continue to charm for years to come. Reviewed May 26, 2009 ARTICLE »
2005 Elke Vineyards Blue Diamond Donnelly Creek Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., 550 cases, $30. · Ripe strawberries are pronounced in the nose and on the palate. Pleasing mid palate elegance, persistence and length with dusty tannins and herbs on the finish. Burgundian-styled and very likeable. Reviewed April 30, 2007 ARTICLE »