EnRoute Les Pommiers Pinot Noir 2022

Region and Vineyards

The Russian River Valley is one of California's premier regions for growing Pinot Noir, with its cool climate and foggy conditions. The "Les Pommiers" blend is crafted from several vineyard sites, each contributing unique characteristics to the wine.

• Northern Spy Vineyard in Green Valley, once an apple orchard, now produces high-quality fruit on its Goldridge soils, with a variety of clones, including Pommard 5, Mt. Eden, and Dijon 115. This vineyard adds structure and complexity to the wine.
• Amber Ridge Vineyard in the Middle Reach area provides fruit from its rolling hills, contributing richness and depth with its mix of Pommard 5, Calera, and Dijon 115, 667, and 777 clones.
• Manzana Vineyard in Green Valley adds brightness and energy to the blend, with hillside plantings of Dijon 114, 115, and Pommard 5.

Winemaking

The EnRoute Pinot Noir is made from 100% Pinot Noir. The winemaking process includes open-top fermentation with daily punch-downs to extract flavor and tannins. The wine remained on the skins for an average of 14 days to achieve optimal extraction.

Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels (30% new and 70% neutral), the wine develops a refined balance of fruit, tannins, and subtle oak influence, highlighting the complexity and elegance of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Medium ruby red with a bright clarity.
• Aroma: Aromas of fresh raspberry compote are layered with notes of baking spice and the earthy scent of rain on a forest floor.
• Palate: On the palate, the wine offers generous yet soft flavors of strawberry preserves, expanding with elegant, silky tannins. The lively acidity enhances the fruit and leads to a long, refreshing finish.

Did you know?

The name "Les Pommiers" translates to "The Apple Trees," a nod to the history of the Northern Spy Vineyard, which was once an apple orchard. This vineyard now contributes some of the finest fruit to this expressive Pinot Noir blend.

Wine Pairing Ideas

• Duck breast with cherry sauce: The wine’s red fruit and gentle tannins perfectly complement the richness of the duck and the sweet-tart flavors of the cherry sauce.
• Wild mushroom risotto: The earthy notes of the wine pair beautifully with the umami-rich flavors of the mushrooms and the creamy texture of the risotto.
• Grilled salmon: The vibrant acidity and fresh fruit in the wine balance the richness of grilled salmon, making for a harmonious pairing.
• Herb-crusted pork tenderloin: The soft tannins and spice notes in the wine enhance the savory flavors of the pork and herbs.

History of EnRoute

The EnRoute story begins with a deep-rooted admiration for Pinot Noir. The founding partners of Napa Valley’s prestigious Far Niente Winery had been experimenting with the varietal since the 1980s. Their growing fascination with the grape’s potential in cooler regions ultimately led to the creation of EnRoute in 2007.

Driven by a desire to explore the nuances of Russian River Valley terroirs, they established EnRoute with the goal of producing world-class Pinot Noir from vineyards deeply influenced by fog, coastal breezes, and complex soils. The debut vintage, “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir 2007, was released in 2009 and marked the start of a new chapter for the team—one that diverged from their Cabernet and Chardonnay legacy in Napa to embrace the delicacy and detail of Pinot Noir in Sonoma County.

Today, EnRoute continues under the same ownership group as Far Niente, Dolce, Bella Union, and Nickel & Nickel, with an unwavering commitment to expressing vineyard character through sustainable viticulture and minimalist winemaking.

Region and Vineyards

EnRoute is based in the Russian River Valley AVA, one of California’s most celebrated regions for cool-climate viticulture. Located in Sonoma County, the valley benefits from coastal fog, diurnal temperature shifts, and Goldridge sandy loam soils, which contribute to slow grape ripening, vibrant acidity, and layered aromatics.

The estate focuses on meticulously selected vineyard parcels, including both estate-owned and long-term partner sites in key sub-regions like Green Valley, Sebastopol Hills, and Middle Reach. Among these is the Amber Ridge Vineyard, a cornerstone of the Les Pommiers blend and one of the Russian River’s most respected Pinot Noir sources.

The vineyard practices emphasize sustainability, clonal diversity, and small-lot harvesting, enabling precise control and the crafting of wines that reflect vintage and place.

Wine Range of EnRoute

EnRoute produces a concise and terroir-driven range of wines focused on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay:

• Les Pommiers Pinot Noir – The flagship wine, blending fruit from multiple vineyards across the Russian River Valley to offer balance, red fruit purity, and refined structure.
• Northern Spy Vineyard Pinot Noir – A single-vineyard bottling showcasing earthy depth, firm structure, and aging potential.
• Brumaire Chardonnay – A vibrant, textured wine with orchard fruit, citrus, and subtle oak, sourced from cool-climate sites.

Each wine is fermented in small lots and aged in French oak barrels, with careful blending to preserve vineyard identity and finesse.

Did you know?

The name “EnRoute” was chosen to reflect both a literal and philosophical journey—symbolizing the founders’ transition from Napa to Sonoma, and their ongoing pursuit of Pinot Noir excellence in the Russian River Valley. The flagship wine, Les Pommiers, pays homage to the apple orchards that once dominated the landscape of western Sonoma.