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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. 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 has been made by master winemaker Tom Farella, of Farella Vineyard, since inception. Its French Burgundian style has been winning converts for just as long. In addition, there is a Mary Elke Pinot Noir which is a good value wine and a Rose. The wines are sold on the website and thru retail stores.

Reviewed Wines

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 »