Medium ruby color; cherry, raspberry on the nose; cherry, raspberry, strawberry, spice, some earthiness on the palate.
Dry; silky tannins and acidity. Simple, straightforward, acceptable varietal character. With the pinot noir boom, makers responded by scooping up pinot noir from blocks that were not suited for pinot. Nevermind, it came from a pinot vine, we can put pinot noir on the label. Wine rules allow 25% of the grapes to not be pinot noir for you to still claim the wine is pinot noir. This wine does not come across as that lowball offering.
It was just a matter of time before Oregon, arguably our premier pinot noir state, joined the club of large-production pinot noir. Firesteed may have used 100% or some substantial percentage of pinot noir grapes in this effort, and clearly these were good-enough Oregon PN grapes. It tastes varietally correct. It does not run with the marvelous, etherial pinot noirs Oregon magically produces and then sells for multiples of this price, but Firesteed’s PN absolutely scores points as a middle-shelf, large production, quality libation. 13% ABV
Grapes were sourced from several sites around Oregon. Fermented and aged in “a traditional manner respecting this delicate varietal. Aged in both small French oak barrels—15% new—and stainless steel tanks. There is mild oak influence, but the clear focus is on pinot noir fruits,” the winery comments.
This is a Vintage Wine Estates brand. Vintage’s stable of wines exceeds 40 brands. It includes still wines, sparkling wines, wine cocktails, and spirits. Their Firesteed winery was founded in 1992. It opened its winery and tasting room in Rickreall, Oregon in 2002. The wine continues to be produced there. The winery comments on its logo: “The winery icon is a horse, an archetype which has connoted grace, fire and beauty since ancient times. It is also a symbol of the frontier spirit which drew pioneers west to follow their dreams.”
Firesteed Cellars Pinot Noir, Oregon 2021 is a tasty, very pleasant mass-produced pinot noir. It achieves tasting like pinot noir, but as with most such mass production PN niches, this is a good-tasting, easy-drinking wine rather than an exemplar of higher-end pinot. No sin in that, it is what it is and you likely will enjoy it. Pair with rich fish, salmon; lighter beef cuts, grilled, braised, broiled; veal; wild game, venison and turkey; poultry, turkey and chicken; can work with wide range of comfort food; nice sipped on its own, too. Cheese—sheep’s milk cheese; gruyère, swiss, provolone, caciocavallo, fontina, brie, camambert. $14-17
