By R.H. Drexel, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, February 1, 2017
Photo by Jodene Garrison
From an enological perspective, though, my mind was positively blown when we started to explore the wines of the West Elks AVA. It’s about a two-hour drive from Palisade – a breathtaking, vast journey, dotted along the way with unrelentingly, contiguous stands of Aspen trees. Colorado’s highest-elevation vineyards are in the West Elks AVA, which is surrounded by the townships of Paonia and Hotchkiss, along the North Fork of the Gunnison River…
I’m also obsessed with Pinot Noir, and the best Colorado Pinot Noir I had was made by Alfred Eames Cellars, located at Puesta del Sol Vineyards just about three miles south of Paonia…
A visit to the West Elks AVA, however, is not complete until one makes the time to visit Stone Cottage Cellars, the most visually lovely winery we visited in Colorado…
