Firesteed Pinot Noir 2006 Oregon

I followed the Mark West with this "more adventurous" Pinot Noir, described on the bottle as "Bright, easy to drink... exuberant cherry and berry fruit flavors and aromas." Again, I found a wildly different description online: "The wine's aromas of strawberry and raspberry mingle with the distinct sensation of vanilla-cream."

Honestly... even though this bottle was more expensive, I liked the Mark West better. And the search continues...

Mark West Pinot Noir 2006 California

My friend Amy turned me on to Pinot Noir after her stint in New Zealand. (She is still looking for the perfect American pinot noir as it is not easy to find a good selection of NZ wines here. I hope she remembers to tell me if she finds it). When I went to the Party Factory in search of a bottle of pinot noir to try, the wine guy sold this Mark West to me as a good baseline; he said if I liked this I could try something a little more "adventurous" next time. The bottle description: "Red and black cherry flavors abound with a note of spice from oak aging... rich in texture with a lingering finish." My verdict: I really, really liked it. But it was not Vino Nobile.