Panther Creek Cellars 2002 Pinot Shea Valley - $40

Thank you Dr. Karson! And by that I am referring to Dr. Martha Karson, the mother of our very own Dr. Miranda Karson. I know it’s confusing, what isn’t confusing though is the quality of the wines that Martha (seen outlined below!) has introduced Miranda and (vicariously) me to. Martha, a clinical psychologist by training, works in the tasting room at Panther Creek vineyards. She often visits Baltimore and with her visits come many bottles of Panther Creek wines.

Recently, Dr. Karson (Miranda) brought over a bottle of the 2002 Panther Creek Pinot Noir Shea Valley, and it was quite a treat. For specific tasting notes, I offer the details from the website: “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. The wines are floral, very fruit 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.”

This 2002 was very good.  Floral notes in the bouquet with dark cherry notes and a touch of lavender.  Great structure through the finish with good acidity and moderate tannins.  Overall well done.

If you have a chance to get a hold of a Panther Creek wine, then I suggest by all means you do! They are a real treat, and at a very reasonable price! For more info, just head to McMinnville, Oregon, and ask for Dr. Karson! (http://www.panthercreekcellars.com)