Firesteed - Pinot Noir

1998 | 1995 | 1994

2000 CITATION PINOT NOIR Firesteed Wines

The growing season was warm with few heat spikes and barely a drop of rain between June and harvest early in October. The most promising vineyard blocks were then selected and fermented in small vessels. Punched-down twice a day by hand the wine was gently pressed into French oak barrels to age for the next eighteen months. Careful selection of the best barrels produced a small quantity of deep, dark-colored, luscious Pinot Noir.

Bottle-aged five years before release, the wine has developed the complexity only achieved with great patience. Still retaining the black cherry and vanilla flavors from its youth, the wine has added new layers of aroma and texture with each passing year. Join by elusive earthy elements and softened with time, the tannins that once could only provide structure to wine, now have become its soul.

WINE ANALYSIS
TA 5.55 g/l
pH 3.53
Alcohol 13.6%

1998 CITATION PINOT NOIR

The warm, dry weather of Oregon's spectacular 1998 vintage yielded a small crop of exceptional quality grapes. The most promising vineyard blocks were selected and fermented in small vessels. Punch-down twice a day by hand, the wine was gently pressed to French oak barrels to age for the next twelve months. Careful selection of the best barrels produced a small quantity of deep, darkly-colored, luscious Pinot Noir.

Bottle-aged six years before release, the wine has developed the complexity only achieved with great patience. Still retaining the huge mouthful of black cherry flavors from its youth, the wine adds new layers of aroma and texture with each passing year. Now, smooth and supple it creates a sensation like a bite of warm blueberry pie topped with vanilla bean ice cream. A hint of earthiness appears in one sip, but not the next. All dark fruit and spice elements carry right through the long finish.

Enjoy!

WINE ANALYSIS
TA 4.94 g/l
pH 3.63
Alcohol 13.0%

1995 CITATION PINOT NOIR

The fruit was fermented in small plastic fermenters, which allowed hand-care in punching down the cap and temperature control. The cap was hand-plunged two to four times per day. After fermentation, the wine was gently pressed and racked into French oak barrels for aging and malolactic fermentation.

Barrel aging lasted fifteen months in new, one and two-year old barrels. The top barrels were then selected and blended together for this cuvee. The wine was lightly filtered before bottling.

Earthy, with forest floor, cedar and leather aromas. Delicate, with raspberry and vanilla flavors and tannins that have softened over time. Subtle and elegant hints of toast and caramel on the finish.

Enjoy!

WINE ANALYSIS
TA 5.70 g/l
pH 3.72
Alcohol 13.0%

1994 CITATION PINOT NOIR

The 1994 Vintage in the Willamette Valley was superb. The summer was warm and dry. Small berries and low yields in the vineyard provided grapes of exceptional quality. From our Firesteed growers, the most promising vineyard blocks were selected and fermented in small vessels. The caps were punched down twice a day by hand and the wine was gently pressed to French oak barrels to age for the next twelve months. Careful selection of only the best barrels produced a small quantity of deep, darkly-colored, luscious Pinot Noir.

Now, ten years later, the wine's aromas have developed and the complexity only achieved with great patience. Still effusive and intense, with floral and vanilla notes, the wine has a smooth rich mouth feel which continues to evolve in the bottle while retaining the lively raspberry and cherry flavors of its youth. A tough of oak spices the lingering finish.

Enjoy!

WINE ANALYSIS
TA 5.89g/l
pH 3.52
Alcohol 13.8%