Panther Creek, located in McMinnville Oregon, is passionate about its wine and that passion leads them to source fruit from some of that state’s top vineyard spots who are operated by folks who have a similar passion. Its Pinot Noir has garnered a large number of accolades over the years and has been some of my personal favorite since first tasting them a couple of years ago.

2007 Freedom Hills Pinot Noir – W.E.P. Rating: 100%

Technical Data:

Appellation: Willamette Valley

Alcohol: 14.10%

Composition: Pinot Noir: 100% Freedom Hill Vineyard

$40.00 bottle

Nose: Sharpie pen, burnt tire, cranberries, sour cherry, wet cedar and currant.

Taste: Black sour cherries and cranberries hit the front palate with authority. Next up, on the mid-palalte is the flavors of some leather, tobacco, cedar, dark chocolate and the sharpie pen. Good finish that hangs out for awhile and finishes with all kinds of stellar, tart red fruits.

2007 Verde Vineyards Pinot Noir – W.E.P. Rating: 75%

Technical Data:

Appellation: Willamette Valley

Alcohol: 12.90%

Composition: Pinot Noir: 40% Momtazi Vineyard, 30% Temperance Hill Vineyard, and 30% Elton Vineyard

$35.00 bottle

Nose: Dried cherries, lavender, shoe polish, cranberries, cinnamon and a touch of cedar.

Taste: Good red fruit on the attack of cherry and cranberries and some nice hints of vanilla and Christmas spices as well. Good mid palate tranisition with both acidity and tannins holding together, however, the finish is actually a bit short for me. Overall, this isn’t a bad pinot for $35 but there are others I’d seek out in its price range.

On the web: www.panthercreekcellars.com

Argyle winery in Oregon’s Williamette Valley is one of that state’s definitive wineries and has been leading the charge for Oregon grape varieties since 1987 – it has since established itself amongst the wine-drinking world as a staple producer of  pinot noir.

This winery owns and farms three vineyards: Knudsen Vineyard, Stroller and Lonestar vineyards – the grapes in its 2006 Reserve Pinot Noir are blended from all three.

Technical Data:
Varietals: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Lone Star, Stoller, Kndsen
AVA: Willamette Valley
Alcohol: 14.5%
Brix: 23-24.5
Residual Sugar: None
Bottled: February 2008
Cases produced: 6450
Release date: May 2008
Winemaker: Rollin Soles

Nose: Dirty cranberry sauce – obnoxious amounts of dirt going on in this glass – I also pick up some nice bacon fat action as well. Huge amounts of chalk-dust as well. So the nose smells like someone sprinkled chalkdust and dirt into a bowl of dried cranberries.

Taste: Take an old chalk-laden cloth, mash-up some cranberries in it and then toss in a shot of liquid smoke. Good finish that lasts quite nicely with hints of some shoelace, big-league chew and cranberry. This is a very well-balanced Pinot that shows quite well for its price-point and will clearly appeal to those who prefer a slightly lighter pinot than others out there. Very food friendly – I’d have no problems pairing it with anything from seared sirloin tips to cedar plank salmon.

W.E.P. Rating: 90%

Winery website: http://argylewinery.com