OK, this is a bit embarrassing, but for the sake of honesty, I am a Monopole Crü member ‘Newbie taster’ and I received these wines free (aka gratis). This is a “rare” honor bestowed upon a Monopole Crü subscriber for a Berserker Businesses new to the marketplace for BerserkerDay.
Summary: Overall, these two pinots are medium colored but to me reflect an overall lighter and surprisingly reductive style of predominantly neutral oak aging that I prefer with pinot noir while showing quite a high alcohol content (which isn’t at all displeasing). It would be hard for me to be unhappy drinking either of these. They are both terrific and I crushed both bottles without hesitation (over a few nights, after some initial Coravin action for academic purposes) The chardonnay kind of blew me away. I really like lean and no new oak chardonnay, but this was a particularly awesome dichotomy of aroma and palate (which partly could be due to the 2021 droughts causing aromatic concentration?). There was richness and distinctive granny smith apple flavors which were typical of chardonnay. I would have thought this could be an aromatic field blend by the nose if not for those two palate notes.
2018 Elkhorn Peak Pinot Noir:
Color: Translucent medium brick red
Nose: Soft, earthy soil with red fruits predominantly of red cherry, pomegranate, and hibiscus scented black tea. A swirl really elevates the fruit.
Palate/Taste: It’s a pop of mixed red fruits immediately on the way in leaning now more towards strawberry and pomegranate with a delayed sense of cherry and rose hips. Very mild and soft tannins come in next followed by a nice lingering sense of acidity and that sits on the back sides of the tongue (good acid pucker) to make me want to take another sip while holding the first fruit notes. If I hold out, the finish is super long with a sense of dusty soil (can almost pick up sous-bois) and a light hint of clove (presumably from “neutral” oak) in there but the wine is more fruit forward. Light bodied, fruit dominant with a shifting finish, and very easy to drink. I’m surprised also by the detectable alcohol presence in this wine I believe due to the lighter body. It’s not out of balance, it’s just a surprise.
2018 Elkhorn Peak Pinot Noir Reserve:
Color: Pretty much the same translucent medium brick red
Nose: The nose is now earthiness and potpourri with clove and vanilla taking a side-by-side to darker riper red fruits leaning more towards raspberry and black cherry or plum.
Palate/Taste: Much more of a silky feel across the mouth with black cherry and rich strawberry. Tannins are soft, but comparatively pricklier than the non-Reserve sibling. The acidity remains quite good but is more full mouth coating giving me the same urge to keep drinking. I don’t pick up the same sense of alcohol as I did with the non-reserve pinot, but the body is also bit fuller leaning towards medium. Black tea and gun smoke linger on a long finish now.
2021 Elkhorn Peak Chardonnay:
Nose: Holy Moses, this is super aromatic with a spectacularly crazy tropicality blend of overripe pineapple, honeydew, and Meyer lemon.
Palate/Taste: Like the pinot noirs, this is a reductive style, however, the nose is a surprising (seemingly oxidized) dichotomy to the palate experience. This is a rich, medium bodied wine. The first hit is with mouth-watering acidity of a green apple, then follows with lime and citrus flowers on a longer finish. The finish would be best compared to the sensation after eating a ripe granny smith that figured out how to hang out in your mouth for a few minutes. I wish I was eating linguini vongole right now. If not for the richer body paired to green apple, this would have stuck me as a white field blend with aromatic varieties.