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Firesteed 1999 Pinot Gris Awards
- 86 Points "Highly Recommended": Beverage Tasting Institute
- Silver: 2001 Spring Fest Wine Festival
- Silver: 2000 San Francisco International Wine Competition
- Silver: 2000 Northwest Enological Society
- Bronze: 2001 Indiana State Fair International Wine Competition
- Bronze: 2001 San Diego National Wine Competition
- Bronze: 2000 San Diego National Wine Competition
Firesteed 1999 Pinot Gris Reviews
FIRESTEED Pinot Gris Oregon 1999, Rich earthy style, with spicy, leesy flavors over fruit, round and generous. Supple finish.
"Harvey Steiman's Best-Value Wines from Oregon" Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, May 15, 2001
Surprisingly, Oregon is not ideal for Burgundy's other grape chardonnay. Most I tasted were disappointing. Alsace grape pinot gris shows more potential. Eyrie Winery pioneered pinot gris in 1970 bust since then, wineries have made the mistake of oaking pinot gris. The best, like Firesteed, are tank-fermented, pure fruit styles, with balance and acidity not even found in Alsace.
"On the Oregon Trail" Rose Murray Brown, Sunday Business, August 5th, 2001
1999 Firesteed Pinot Gris
Rating: *** Price: US$10.00 (750 ml.)
Tasting Notes:
General Qualities: Medium-bodied, uncomplicated, dry, soft acid, little or no oak
Color: Pale straw
Aromas: Floral, lavender, spicy
Other Descriptors: Lean, short finish, soft
Date Reviewed: July 24, 2001
"Wine from WineToday, The New York Times on the Web, July 24, 2001
With only 10 wineries present, this was a very small tasting by London standards, but quality and individuality shone through on every table. My top 10 has left out some excellent wines, but the selection below was my final, personal choice.
White:
Firesteed Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, 1999
A lovely example of this seductive varietal - it has soft spice and ripe fruit without going as far as the residual sugar flavours of too many Pinot Gris from Alsace nowadays. The balancing acidity makes it really attractive with or without food.
"Steven Spurrier's top 10 Pacific Northwest wines" Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com - Good Living
'The Pacific Northwest Wine Coalition came to town recently to present their annual tasting of Washington and Oregon wines. As a cook, I couldn't help thinking that there were several that would immediately send me straight into the kitchen - matching these with food would be a pleasure.' Food writer Brian St Pierre
Firesteed Oregon Pinot Gris, 1999, would be a good starter. It's bursting with stone fruit, apricot character shot through with a light current of vivid acidity, making it a perfect match for cold fish appetizers like rolled salmon-cheese packets or smoked sturgeon.
"Brian St Pierre's top 10 Pacific Northwest wines to drink food with" Brian St Pierre, Decanter.com - Good Living
If you can find it (and if you can't, ask), check out Firesteed's 1999 Oregon Pinot Gris ($10). This lean, clean, lemon and floral statement of the crisp, white varietal is outstanding. There's a steely underpinning that pushes the fruit forward nicely, and there's a light toasty quality that comes from the wine having been aged on the yeast while in stainless steel tanks. The crisp citrus qualities of this wine make it ideal for any matter of shellfish.
"Bargain Bottles" Richard Paul Hinkle, Pacific Sun, November 1, 2000
Firesteed, a negociant based in Seattle, has released its first white wine, the Firesteed Pinot Gris 1999, Oregon. A negociant - the word is French - is a merchant who specializes in buying grapes or a finished wine from a vineyard or winery and bottling the product under his own label; this practice is prevalent in Burgundy. Firesteed's Pinot Gris 1999 is delightful. Pure lemon-lime fruit touched with dried herbs, almond blossom and limestone nestles in a surprisingly weighty, almost lush texture. It's a lot of wine for the price.
"These Enchanters Come in 1s, 2s and 3s" Fredric Koeppel, The Commercial Appeal, September 6, 2000
1999 Firesteed Oregon Pinot Gris, £ 9.95 The pinot gris grape of Alsace happily removed to Oregon in the northwest America. Alluringly aromatic with peach and apricot flavours and a lingering grapefruit tang (call Liberty Wines, 020 7720 5350 for stockists).
"SOMETHING to drink" Jo Simon, Sunday Times Style Magazine, September 3, 2000
There are few prospects more terrifying than having a wine buff to dinner, I am told. Here are some recommendations of available insider wines that should impress the oenologically pickiest dinner guest.
If you quail at the prospect of possible taverna jokes, however, or are serving something particularly rich and French-inspired, then benefit from Oregon's unusually successful recent vintages. A Pinot Gris would show that you know that this perfumed variety rivals Pinot noir for the state's happiest grape - and is far more successful there that the ubiquitous Chardonnay.
Firesteed is a label rather than a property, but it can turn out fine value, as in its 1999 Pinot Gris (about £10 from Bennett's of Chipping Camden and Noel Young of Trumpingtom/www.firesteed.com).
"Show the Experts how it's Really Done" Jancis Robinson, Financial Times Food & Drink, July 15, 2000
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