Review of Elk Ave Prime | Crested Butte, CO

My second day in Crested Butte included a dinner at the bar at the Elk Ave Prime, one of Crested Butte’s most highly recommended restaurants. Since I was travelling alone, I sat at the bar. Sometimes sitting at the bar can be a lonely or awkward experience, but the bartenders were friendly and welcoming, and the other restaurant guests were friendly but not overbearing.

In addition to the full menu, the bar has a special menu (not listed on the website. I ordered the burger with roasted veggies. While I waited, I chatted with one of the bartenders about a few wine options. I’ve been listening to the Wine For Normal People podcast and had just listened to an episode about Pinot Noir.

I saw that Elk Ave Prime had two American Pinot Noirs on their award-winning wine menu, and got tastes of each. The first, an Elouan 2015 Pinot Noir from Oregon, had a rich, juicy smell with the first inhalation. It felt like it had a lot of berry flavor with tannins, and had a long mouth feel after sipping.

The second wine I tasted was a Belle Glos “Las Alturas Vineyard” 2015 Pinot Noir from California, Santa Maria Valley. At first smell, it smelled almost like a port. It had a rich, dark smell. The first sip revealed that it had a big, smooth, jammy flavor, with a little bit of a bite.

So which wine did I choose? The California! It paired well with the burger and was delightful to sip on alone or with the meal. (Both photos are of the Belle Glos “Las Alturas Vineyard” 2015 Pinot Noir)

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