Firesteed 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

The Winery: Firesteed
The Wine: 2006 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
The Price: $22.99 at Safeway

Firesteed is an Oregon winery that has been producing wine since 1992. It appears that 2006 was the last year they made the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, but they are currently producing their Oregon Pinot Noir. If it's not abundantly obvious, the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is made from grapes from Oregon's Willamette Valley. The Oregon Pinot Noir is made from grapes from throughout Oregon, including the Willamette, Umpqua, Rogue and Walla Walla valleys.

The wine bottle was stopped with a natural cork and decanted 45 minutes before sampling.

The wine is dark purple in color with a brown cast to it.  It has aromas of blackberries, blueberries, cassis and vanilla.

This is a pretty disappointing Pinot Noir.  The flavor is harsh, with a strong alcohol flavor.  Buried underneath the alcohol flavor lingers flavors of blackberry and cherry.  But you really have to search long and hard to find those flavors.  I'd really expect a 4 year old wine to have been far less harsh than this.

Skip this one. Blech.