Firesteed - 1997 Awards and Reviews Pinot Noir

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General Reviews

Firesteed 1997 Pinot Noir Awards

Gold: Pinot Noir - 1999 Tri-Cities Wine Festival
Silver: Pinot Noir - 1999 Hilton Head Hospitality Association's WestFest 2000
Bronze: Pinot Noir - 2000 Grand Harvest Awards Wine Competition
Bronze: Pinot Noir - 1999 Intervin International Wine Competition
Bronze: Pinot Noir - 1999 Indy International Wine Competition, Indiana State Fair
Bronze: Pinot Noir Under $10 - 1999 The Northwest Wine Summit

Firesteed 1997 Pinot Noir Reviews

When the baseball season starts this week, a heated issue will return to the table: what wine goes with hot dogs?

"The truth is, if anybody can figure it out, God bless'em," says Rusty Staub, the former Mets outfielder and broadcaster, ex-restaurateur, and a wine fan. At home, he says, "if the day is hot, I would have something white and chilled; a cold day, red wine."

His wine buddy Tom Seaver, the hall of Fame pitcher and Mets television broadcaster, zipped one across the, uh, plate: zinfandel. His second choice? Zinfandel.

Next stop, a son of the frankfurter heartland: German-born Eberhard Müller, the Lutèce chef. After 30 seconds' laughter, he fessed up: "I have wine with hot dogs; it's called Budweiser." Aw, c'mon. "A light pinot noir."

Do sauerkraut and wine mix? Absolutely, in Alsatian choucroute garnie, which is born for chilled gewürztraminer, a white. Isn't mustard a spoiler? Bot in choucroute. Besides, as Rusty Staub observed sagely, "In Dijoin, they drink Burgundy."

Are grilled onions a threat? Gewürztraminer and pinot noir can handle them. Pickles and relish? Zinfandel can overcome. Ketchup? Yes, a big slug of pinot.

Trimbach gewürztraminer from Alsace, a famous label and a best buy, is everywhere. The delicious '98 costs $13 at McAdam Buy-Rite, 398 Third Avenue (28th Street), Manhattan.

Cline Cellars's '98 California zinfandel, a splendid, macho bargain that begs for spicy dogs and sausages, is $9 at Mr. Wright, 1593 Third Avenue (89th Street), Manhattan.

The '97 Firesteed pinot noir - a fruity, charming, casual pop quaff from Oregon - costs $9 at Bensonhurst Discount Liquor Center, 7506 18th Avenue (Bay Ridge Parkway), Brooklyn.

Note to high-rolling noshers: No, Sauternes doesn't go with franks. Try Gray's piña colada, or, if you're an aesthete, papaya.

"Wine Under $20, Baseball, Hot Dogs and..." Howard G. Goldberg, The New York Times, March 26,2000

Firesteed Pinot Noir, Oregon 1997 was the very first Oregon Pinot Noir Oregon Pinot Noir Liquor Barn carried! (Oh, how this category and region have grown!) The color is slighter darker than a red rose, Firesteed's Pinot Noir has mild berry and spice aromas and flavors with a delicate finish. Similar in style to a French Beaujolais, this is a great introduction to red wine and can be enjoyed on its own or with your favorite meal for only $9.69 per bottle 750 ml. bottle.

"Partyline" Liquor Barn monthly news letter, October 1999

Still looking for a good Oregon Pinot Noir for under $10? How about under $8? In prowling through a State Liquor Control Board store the other day, I happened upon two goodies: the Erath Pinot Noir for $7.73 (not available in all stores) and one of my all-time favorites, Firesteed at $7.17.

"Tip of the Week" Tom Stockley, The Seattle Times, October 28, 1998

If you can find a better Oregon Pinot Noir for the money than this one, we'd be surprised. This tangy, spicy, cherry-scented offering will leave you thrilled by its excellent price/value rapport. It's on the lighter side of medium bodied, but aromatic spices, from cloves to nutmeg, abound.

You could search all over Oregon and never find the Firesteed winery. That's because it's a "virtual" winery that exists solely as a brand name in the market place. Firesteed has a contract with a "real," independent winery, which purchases the grapes and then makes wine based on specifications supplied by Firesteed.

365 Great Wines Calendar, Friday, July 16, 1999