2013 Panther Creek Cellars Chardonnay French Creek Vineyard 750 ml

Tony Rynder’s Tiny Single Parcel

It’s just us and the Panther Creek mailing list — you can’t get the 2013 French Creek Chardonnay anywhere else. Sourced from a single 9-acre parcel in the Columbia Valley, the 2013 French Creek is the definition of a boutique wine. Meticulous vineyard work matched with star winemaker Tony Rynders’ deft cellar touch have produced a creamy, well-balanced, articulate Chardonnay that Wine Spectator hailed as “bright, focused and refreshing.” The best part? We’ve got it for 33% off. Just $29.99 while 56 very exclusive cases last.

Wine Access clients know Panther Creek as one of the pioneers of Oregon Pinot Noir. In 1994, founder Ken Wright put Oregon on the map with a 94-point Pinot that took Robert Parker’s breath away. The rest, as they say, was history. Wright has since passed the torch at Panther Creek to another star winemaker, Tony Rynders. A longtime friend of Wright’s, Rynders had dreamed of working at Panther Creek since that legendary 1994 vintage. After 20 years working at some of the best wineries in Oregon, including a decade at Domaine Serene (where he would turn out a record-breaking number of high-scoring wines), Rynders finally got the job he’d been waiting for.

2013 was Rynders’ first vintage at Panther Creek and he wasted no time applying his pedigreed approach to the 40-year-old vines at French Creek Vineyard. Rynders took in just enough fruit to make a small batch of excellent Chardonnay, aged in 33% new French oak for 16 months. With additional time spent in bottle, the 2013 is now drinking beautifully — if you can get your hands on it. After us, your only option is a trip to Oregon.

Sincerely,

Vanessa Conlin