The story of Elouan begins back when winemaker Joseph “Joey” Wagner was 19 and first started working with his father at Napa Valley’s legendary Caymus winery.
Soon thereafter, Joey struck out on his own with his wildly popular label, Meiomi.
Elouan is one of a handful of brands that fall under the Copper Cane wine portfolio.
Copper Cane, owned and produced by Joey, was founded back in 2014 after his sale of Meiomi Pinot Noir to Constellation.
Other bottles in the portfolio include Quilt, Belle Glos, and Boen, to name a few.
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Elouan Pinot Noir Review
Elouan is an interesting bottle that actually helped to set some precedents for wine regulation. First, it is grown in Oregon but vinted at Joey’s home base in California.
This led to a number of winemakers in Oregon questioning whether all of the juice used for the Pinot was actually from Oregon, much less the particular American Viticultural Area that was listed.
Wherever you fall on the topic, the result was that the American Viticultural Area had to be removed from the label, and the wine continues to be produced.
This is fortunate for fans of the Wagner style of wines worldwide, as Elouan continues to top sales charts and acts as a fantastic crowd-pleaser to this day.
Elouan Pinot Noir
- Brand: Elouan
- Country: United States
- Region: Hybrid California/Oregon
- Wine Type: Red Wine
- Varietal: Pinot Noir
- ABV: 13.6%
Appearance
Bright garnet color in the glass, the wine looks very vibrant. A few swirls reveal heavy legs for a Pinot. While this may be a heavier style of Pinot, it is lighter than its counterparts, Boen and Belle Glos.
Smell
The aroma of this wine is first dominated by fruit. I get a lot of tart cherry, plum, and underripe raspberry. Following that, vanilla, oak, and violet take center stage.
It is an incredibly aromatic bottle, even for California Pinot. You could almost get so caught up unwrapping the aromatics that you forget to sip the wine!
Taste
The flavor profile largely follows the aromatics. Wild cherries, underripe fruit, and bramble translate well from the nose to the tongue.
The vanilla and oak characteristics are a bit much for my tastes, but fans of heavy oak influence are sure to enjoy that about this wine.
Despite the above-average residual sugar and the reasonable alcohol content, the mouthfeel comes across as a bit thin.
I would personally attribute this to the incredibly low tannin and acid levels. It results in a wine that is plush, smooth, and quaffable.
What Does Elouan Pinot Noir Pair With?
Roasted pork loins, portabella mushrooms, and barbecue braised short ribs would all be absolutely fantastic pairings with this bottle.
In fact, it is an all-around good choice for backyard barbecues, as it works really well for grilled meats in general.
Another great option for this wine is to make it your new Thanksgiving table wine. While it might not mesh with some of the more delicate dishes, it would be delicious with cranberry sauce and oven-roasted turkey!
What Are Wines That Are Similar to Elouan Pinot Noir?
The easy choice here is to explore the rest of the Copper Cane products which we have talked about in this article.
Obviously, revisiting Joey’s original hit, Meiomi, would be a great choice. Outside of these wines, the Wagners have a style all their own where Pinot is concerned.
One of the closest other options would be Walt’s Blue Jay Pinot Noir, but I would personally venture out and try other varietals and styles.
I recommend leaning into Petite Sirah and blends that heavily feature it.
Final Thoughts
This is by no means traditional Pinot Noir, but it has a unique style all its own. It is sure to appeal to fans of modern California blends and richer styles of wine in general.
It is easy to see how this bottle has developed such a following and is worth a try, I would say.