WTN: A nice, cheap(?) Oregon Pinot Noir

Today I was handed a fishbowl Riedel with a light coloured liquid in it. It was by no means a great wine, but that isn't what one always needs. This seemed like an honest, little wine and it smelled of beetroot and pure Pinosity and it seemingly sees only neutral wood. Deliciously light body, not terribly high acidity, but perfectly adequate; nice tannins, too. Refreshing and quite moreish - it didn't take long to finish my glass. It looked like Pinot and smelled like Pinot so blurted out that it was a very decent Burgundy from some lighter, less exalted terroir, some good recent vintage perhaps '06 because of the strong fruit presence.

My interlocutor laughed and told me to guess again. I said "ok, from the charming tartness added to the nice fruit, it might be one of the more successful Alsace Pinots?"

I was told it was new world. And then I did guess Oregon. The wine was Firesteed Oregon Pinot Noir 2007 and it is only 12,4% abv. It apparently costs somewhere around 10$ over there, but sadly over 18€ here. It's not worth it at the Finnish price because I can get some perfectly decent minor Faiveley and Drouhin for less, but at 10$ I think I would buy this on occasion. It seemed like perfectly honest Pinot. And there is always a use for such on my table.

Is this considered a mediocre producer? CellarTracker only had one note on this wine and it was far from positive. But I have always liked bad wine, lol!

It's probably not bad wine. I posted a list (I think?) here a while back with several dozen Oregon producers who are able to put out very drinkable pinots for under $30.00. A local winery here makes one that retails for $6.99.

Firesteed started in Seattle and now has an actual winery and tasting room a fee miles south of me here. West of Salem.

As to the light color - typical for a 2007 from Oregon. It was a tough year for the grapes and required a lot of skill on the part of winemakers. I've probably tasted near 100 2007 Oregon pinot noirs. Nearly all have that light color.

As to the light color - typical for a 2007 from Oregon.

Light colour wasn't a criticism from me - rather the opposite. Too often dark colour in a Pinot Noir indicates a wine that is spoofulated, so I was very pleased to see such a light hue.

[Jenise]

You deduced correctly that Firesteed isn't held in particularly high esteen, but it does have a rep for being 'decent' for the money--as you put it so well, perfectly adequate. It shows up on a lot of restaurant by-the-glass lists.

I've had a few Firesteed wines, and all were pretty good to me. Especially since that's my preferred price range...

[Jenise]

I've had a few Firesteed wines, and all were pretty good to me. Especially since that's my preferred price range...

Have to admit that I remember and tend to judge Firesteed by their introductory wines in the early 90's, which weren't all that hot I have to tell you. But it was a novelty in that it was even then a $10 wine and ten dollar pinots were about as scarce Dolly Partons at a nunnery. The only, and I mean ONLY, competition in that grape was produced by Duck Pond, which immediately acquired the name Duck Pee. Those wines have improved too, but back then they deserved it, believe me.

As mentionned before there is now a $7 Oregon Pinot Noir from Stone wolf called Rascal 2007. It actually smells and tastes like Pinot Noir. When I first tastyed it I figured it would be $10-12. Still, you don't hit much until about $16. There are now getting to be some very good ones from $16-20. The Firesteed here is $14.

[Jenise]

As mentionned before there is now a $7 Oregon Pinot Noir from Stone wolf called Rascal 2007. It actually smells and tastes like Pinot Noir. When I first tastyed it I figured it would be $10-12. Still, you don't hit much until about $16. There are now getting to be some very good ones from $16-20. The Firesteed here is $14.

Michael, what can you tell me about Beran? A few weeks ago I purchased a bottle of their 05 Dijon clone and loved it, thought it was a great buy for $25, and am currently hunting for more at that price.

I am off work today. I will check to see whether or not it is stii available here.

[Jenise]

I am off work today. I will check to see whether or not it is stii available here.

Don't look! Actually found some with a distributor in Seattle. I only meant to say that I was THAT impressed with it. Had never heard of this producer before, though.