Continuing my travels around Panther Creek’s estate vineyards. Today’s stop is the De Ponte Vineyard—doesn’t the name just sound fancy? Trust me, the taste doesn’t disappoint those expectations. Before you read on, make sure you’ve read about the winery’s other single estate bottlings: Maverick, Kalita, and Lazy River. And don’t forget to check out this super fun Pinot Noir-Chardonnay white wine blend. (I know, right?)
Also, don’t judge me, yes that is pizza in the background. Again.
About the Wine: Panther Creek Cellars 2017 De Ponte Vineyard Pinot Noir
14.2% ABV
Flavor Profile:
Appearance: pale ruby
Aroma: The aroma is of medium (+) intensity and youthful with scents of cranberry, wild strawberry, pomegranate, rose petals, oak wood, an herbaceousness (that I just couldn’t place—the winery’s tasting notes suggest tobacco leaf and I won’t disagree with that), and a hint of toasty matchstick flint.
Palate: The palate is dry with medium (+) acid, medium alcohol, medium tannins, and a medium body. The flavor intensity is of medium (+) intensity with any flavors mimicking the aromas listed above but adding to it a hint of black cherry, boysenberry, and a light touch of coffee and maybe even nut skins.
Conclusion: Based on the WSET criteria, I determined that the Panther Creek Cellars 2017 De Ponte Vineyard Pinot Noir is very good with possible aging potential. I think an integral part of the balance of this wine are those fresher fruit components, but am making the argument that it would be interesting to see if any of those flavors and aromas hinting at tertiary notes (coffee, nuts, even the “tobacco leaf”) could evolve into something a bit more decadent than one expects from a New World Pinot Noir. Thoughts out there?
Food Pairing: Pizza. What can I say, Pinot and pizza is one of my fav pairings, I enjoy making my own crust, and experimenting with toppings.
More Info: I received the Panther Creek Cellars 2017 De Ponte Vineyard Pinot Noir as a sample. (Cheers!) Price: $45. For more information about Panther Creek Cellars, their wines, and to purchase wine directly, please visit the Panther Creek Cellars website.
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