Are you following along on my exploration of the Willamette Valley via Panther Creek Cellars? If not, check out these single-vineyard offerings from Kalita, Schindler, and De Ponte vineyards.  (And why not take a peek at  their Chardonnay and Pinot Gris for a few Willamette Valley white wine options?) Next stop: Carter Vineyards…

About the Wine: Panther Creek 2015 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes harvested from Ken Wright’s Carter Vineyard located in the Eola Amity Hills AVA in Willamette Valley, Oregon. The wine aged in 100% French oak barrels (38% new) for 17 months.

193 cases produced.

14.1% ABV

Flavor Profile: Open the bottle of the Panther Creek 2015 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir and breathe in blackberry jam, fresh oak wood, damp soil, a hint of cacao, and an essence of smokiness. The look of this Pinot Noir emits a light, pale, dusty cranberry hue on the pour, settling into the glass just the same, but fading out even more along the perimeter to a very pretty rose-petal pink color. Initial aromas are absolutely of flowers. It’s a rose petal perfume with hints of cranberries and pomegranate. Swirl and those florals become so rich. Add a bit of green herbs, bramble; find that hint of chocolate and add vanilla essence. But really and truly this Pinot Noir is all about those florals…

The palate of the Panther Creek 2015 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir is soft like silk from start to finish. The acidity slightly elevates about 1/2 to 3/4 of the way, finishing with a lingering tingle just on the side edges of the tongue. Dominant flavors are of cranberry, pomegranate, raspberry, oak wood, a hit of white pepper heat, and the over-riding floral essence just encompasses everything like a cloud.

Food Pairing: I paired the Panther Creek 2015 Carter Vineyard Pinot Noir with a vegan, plant-based pizza. What I loved about this pairing in particular (because, let’s face it, Pinot and pizza is always a win in my house) was the herbaceousness of the tomato sauce. It brought out a bit more of the earthier elements of the wine I did not sense when tasting on its own: a bit of wet-rock minerality, fertile soil, and a dark, almost gloomy flavor, of ground coffee.

Lovely pairing indeed. I’d also want to try this wine with a something filled with more of those earthy flavors to see if that highlights any other qualities in the wine. I’m thinking a mushroom risotto with some funky truffle would be a fun experiment with this overall light-bodied wine.

More Info: I received the Panther Creek 2015 Schindler Vineyard Pinot Noir as a sample for review. (Cheers Madelaine!) Price: $65. For more information about Panther Creek, their wines, and to purchase wine directly, please visit the Panther Creek Cellars website.

BriscoeBites officially accepts samples as well as conducts on-site and online interviews. Want to have your wine, winery or tasting room featured? Please visit the Sample Policy page where you can contact me directly. Cheers!

**Please note: all reviews and opinions are my own and are not associated with any of my places of business. I will always state when a wine has been sent as a sample for review. Sending samples for review on my personal website in no way guarantees coverage in any other media outlet I may be currently associated with.**

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