94’ Panther Creek Freedom Hill Pinot- I purchased this from an old WC auction for about $15 a couple of years ago.
This has been standing up for a while so tonight was as good as any. The cork was perfect with just a red tip, came out easy and clean, very little sediment it’s a P’N’P.
Initially a little browning in the glass but the wine was still dark. The bottle funk has taken a while to come around but this is dark cherry, walnut, a little manure and anise. Nice acid with tart Cherry, ripe Raspberry, fairly good weight with leather, ash and a hint of tar. This wine certainly has Bret but it works as it doesn’t obscure the fruit.
This wine is pretty damn tasty with a long finish and great palate weight, it’s probably just entering it’s drinking window for well stored bottles.
Is this after Ken Wright left as winemaker?
The early 90’s Panther Creek wines were fantastic!
I don’t know the exact dates on Ken Wright’s tenure but the wines
were REALLY good when he was there.
Nice note.
I’m pretty sure 94 was the vintage that Ken Wright started, but Mark Vlossak finished. Might have been 93.
Freedom Hill is known for the large scale of the pinot it produces, with beautiful bold flavors and rough-and-tumble tannins, so I’m not surprised it has held up. FH wines need many years but deliver in spades.
A few IPNC’s ago we had both 94 Panther Creek Freedom Hill and St Innocent Freedom Hill. Both were delicious but the edge went to Panther Creek. Different cellars and I believe it was Ken Wright’s last vintage but that Mark had something to do with the finished product. Mike
Ken left while 93s were in barrel. Nearly 100 percent certain on that I have had this wine a couple of times in the past few years. Impressive and true to the vineyard and vintage. Took us 12 years before we got stuff from them and it was worth the wait. Spectacular site and the wines are incredibly age worthy.