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Panther Creek is able to choose some of the best vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, contracting certain blocks, which yield the highest quality grapes. Anden Vineyard (formerly part of Seven Springs Vineyard) is such a site, superbly suited for Pinot Noir. Its terroir produces a very big, red-fruit-centered, mouth filling Pinot, lovely in its youth but with great aging potential. The grapes are typically thinned at veraison to nearly half the normal yield, in order to produce the most concentrated flavors in the fruit. The soil type is Jory, and the Pinot Noir clones are Pommard and 667.

2001 was our first vintage with Anden Vineyard, formerly part of Seven Springs Vineyard. Our Anden Pinot noir is extraordinarily complex, exhibiting a brambly, berry nose with a hint of pine resin, and a palate of wild berries, earth and mint. The fruit was harvested October 9, 2001, and yielded only 1.76 tons/acre. Our production of 240 cases of Anden was aged 16 months in 35% new French oak, and bottled February 5, 2003.

Panther Creek is able to choose some of the best vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, contracting certain blocks, which yield the highest quality grapes. Bednarik Vineyard is such a site, superbly suited for Pinot Noir. Its terroir produces a complex, exotic, spicy Pinot, with significant attractiveness in both its youth and middle age. The grapes are typically thinned at veraison to nearly half the normal yield, in order to produce the most concentrated flavors in the fruit. The soil type is Willakenzie, and the Pinot Noir clones are Pommard and Wadenswil.

Panther Creek’s only Washington wine comes from arguably the finest Chardonnay vineyard in the Northwest. Celilo sits on the south face of Underwood Mountain overlooking the Columbia River. The fruit is distinctive, and Celilo’s “terroir” comes through clearly in this crisp, yet richly textured Chardonnay. Layers of citrus, pear and and wet stones dominate the bouquet, and on the palate, lemon, pear and minerals emerge. Our Celilo Chardonnay was barrel fermented and aged in 25% new French oak, with the balance in neutral French barrels. The 300 case production was bottled September 3, 2003, and was released November 15, 2003.

Panther Creek's only Washington wine comes from arguably the finest Chardonnay vineyard in the Northwest. Celilo sits on the south face of Underwood Mountain overlooking the Columbia River. The fruit is distinctive, and Celilo's "terroir" comes through clearly in this crisp, yet richly textured Chardonnay. Layers of lemon zest, minerals, apples and beeswax swirl through the nose, and in the mouth, pears, peaches and lemons are made even more mouth-watering by the zippy acidity. Our Celilo Chardonnay was harvested September 29, 2003, and was barrel fermented and aged in 20% new French oak, with the balance in neutral French barrels. The 300 case production was bottled September 7, 2004, and will be released April 1, 2005.

The Melón grape is the same as France's Muscadet, and is also known as Melón de Bourgogne. Until the early 1980's, Melon in the United States was often misidentified as Pinot blanc. Panther Creek's Melón comes from the 28-year old vines of De Ponte Vineyard near Dundee, Oregon. The 2002 harvest yielded 6.33 tons of Melón from the 3.2-acre vineyard (1.98 tons/acre). Our '02 Melón was tank fermented, then immediately racked into French oak barrels, 20% of which were new. Our 250 case production was bottled September 3, 2003, and was released November 15, 2003. Its nose is pear, citrus and spiced peaches, with a richly textured palate of pear, peach, apricot and just a touch of sea salt.

2001 harvest (October 7 and 9, 2001) of the Pommard and Wadenswil clone Freedom Hill Pinot noir was 23.6 tons from 9.45 acres, or 2.49 tons/acre. The wine will be aged approximately 16 months in 35% new French oak. Some of the Freedom Hill will go into the 2001 Winemaker's Cuvée Pinot noir, with only 950 cases vineyard designated.

The Melon grape is the same as France's Muscadet, and is also known as Melon de Bourgogne. Until the early 1980's, Melon in the United States was often misidentified as Pinot blanc. Panther Creek's Melón comes from the 29-year old vines of De Ponte Vineyard near Dundee, Oregon. The 2003 harvest yielded 6.72 tons of Melón from the 3.2-acre vineyard (2.1 tons/acre). Our '03 Melón was tank fermented, then immediately racked into French oak barrels, 20% of which were new. Our 300 case production was bottled September 3, 2004, and will be released April 1, 2005. Its nose is pears and yellow flowers, with a richly textured palate of pears, peaches, nasturtiums and a touch of sea salt.

Our first (and only) vintage of Merlot is made from vines planted in the sandy loam soil of this Umpqua Valley site near Roseburg, Oregon. On the nose, this rich Merlot shows blackcurrants, plums and coffee. Our Melrose Merlot is a wonderful food wine, with great texture and acid supporting a palate, distinct from its nose, more of blackberries, tea and chocolate. We only made 300 cases, and bottled it September 6, 2002.

Panther Creek is able to choose some of the best vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, contracting certain blocks, which yield the highest quality grapes. Nysa Vineyard is such a site, superbly suited for Pinot Noir. Its terroir produces a very "Burgundian" Pinot, offering early accessibility and great ageworthiness. The grapes are typically thinned at veraison to nearly half the normal yield, in order to produce the most concentrated flavors in the fruit. The soil type is Jory, and the Pinot Noir clones are Pommard and Wadenswil.

2001 harvest (October 5, 2001) of the 75% Pommard 25% Wadenswil clone Nysa Pinot noir was only 4.76 tons from 3.3 acres or 1.44 tons/acre. The wine will be aged approximately 16 months in 38% new French oak. Production of the vineyard designated Nysa is 350 cases.

The Winemaker's Cuvée is our only blended Pinot noir. The cuvée is a fusion of five Pinot noirs from the Willamette Valley selected for their richness, complexity, and structure. The blend for the 2004 vintage of Winemaker’s Cuvée is Freedom Hill Vineyard (39%), Shea Vineyard (25%), Bednarik Vineyard (17%), Lazy River Vineyard (16%), and Youngberg Hill Vineyard (3%). We consider 2004 to be a classic Oregon vintage demonstrating fresh vibrant fruit and the rich earthy characteristics which are the hallmarks of premium Oregon Pinor noir. Color: Deep ruby. Nose: Bright stawberry & raspberry, smoke, and toast. Palate: Silky, fleshy texture with flavors of ripe berries and cherries. Notes of chocolate on the long finish. The 2004 Cuvée is an intense yet balanced young wine with complex structure that indicates great aging potential.

Panther Creek is able to choose some of the best vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, contracting certain blocks, which yield the highest quality grapes. Shea Vineyard is such a site, superbly suited for Pinot Noir. Its terroir produces a floral, very forward Pinot, offering early accessibility for a single vineyard wine, yet with significant aging capability. The grapes are typically thinned at veraison to nearly half the normal yield, in order to produce the most concentrated flavors in the fruit. The soil type is Willakenzie, and the Pinot Noir clones are 114, 667, 777, Pommard and Wadenswil.

Panther Creek is able to choose some of the best vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, contracting certain blocks, which yield the highest quality grapes. Temperance Hill Vineyard is such a site, superbly suited for Pinot Noir. Its terroir produces a complex, earthy Pinot, with significant attractiveness in both its youth and middle age. The grapes are typically thinned at veraison to nearly half the normal yield, in order to produce the most concentrated flavors in the fruit. The soil type is Nekia, and the Pinot Noir clones are Pommard and Wadenswil.

Panther Creek is able to choose some of the best vineyard sites in the Willamette Valley, contracting certain blocks, which yield the highest quality grapes. White Rose Vineyard is such a site, superbly suited for Pinot Noir. Its terroir produces a floral, forward Pinot, offering early accessibility for a single vineyard wine, yet with significant aging capability. The grapes are typically thinned at veraison to nearly half the normal yield, in order to produce the most concentrated flavors in the fruit. The soil type is Jory, and the Pinot Noir clones are Pommard and Wadenswil.

Beginning with the 2000 vintage, Winemaker's Cuvée is our only blended Pinot noir. This cuvée is a fusion of Pinot noirs from the Willamette Valley (selected for their richness, complexity and structure) with those from the Umpqua Valley (selected for their ripeness and brightness of fruit). The blend for the 2003 vintage is Melrose Vineyard (24%), Lazy River Vineyard (24%), Shea Vineyard (19%), Temperance Hill Vineyard (16%), Youngberg Hill Vineyard (14%), and Bednarik Vineyard (3%). All of these vineyards except Melrose are located in the Willamette Valley.

This CuvÉe is superbly balanced for such a forward, young wine, and has a bright acidity that promises significant aging potential.

Youngberg Hill rises above the Willamette Valley just southwest of McMinnville, Oregon. We have 5 acres of the ten-acre site. Clones are Pommard and Wadenswil; the soil type is Stywier. Our 2001 Youngberg Hill is a beautiful dark ruby wine, with a nose of marionberries, toffee and violets. Its palate exudes earthy blue fruits with a dark balsamic character. We harvested the Youngberg Hill fruit October 10, 2001, with a yield of 1.98 tons/acre. The production of only 400 cases of Youngberg Hill was bottled February 3, 2003, after aging 16 months in 40% new French oak.