Although 2007 was our first vintage for EnRoute, we've been enchanted by Russian River Pinot Noir for nearly three decades. We're clearly passionate about our wines. So, when our Napa Valley sister winery, Nickel & Nickel, invited us to hop over the county line and introduce our new single-vineyard Pinot Noirs during their annual Open House, the entire EnRoute winemaking team (yes, those gents pictured below) showed up to pour and talk about our passion for Pinot.
In addition to our new single-vineyard collection, we brought the newest release of our flagship Russian River Pinot, the EnRoute "Les Pommiers," to the Salon. This was the very first time we've poured all four of our EnRoute Pinots together at one event, and it was very exciting to taste them all side by side. The single-vineyard wines showcased the pedigree of their individual site, yet ultimately they underscored the greatness of our "Les Pommiers" blend.
For those who missed this year's Open House event, we put together a quick and easy recap of the tasting notes from the day.
2014 EnRoute Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Les Pommiers
At once elegant and intense, EnRoute’s flagship Pinot Noir is the consummate blend of fruit from our Russian River Valley vineyards. Prominent Bing cherry and raspberry aromas give way to subtle plum, pomegranate, clove, earth and floral notes. Layers of red fruit flavors expand on the palate, followed by subtle mineral notes, a lift of acidity and a finish that is long and complex.
2014 EnRoute Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Amber Ridge Vineyard
Produced entirely from the Calera clone in one of our northernmost Russian River Valley vineyards, the 2014 vintage offers a combination of crushed raspberry, fresh Bing cherry and cola notes, followed by dried herbs, mocha and hints of earthy loam. Abundant cherry and plum flavors greet upon entry and give way to a long, bright finish.
2014 EnRoute Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Northern Spy Vineyard
This intricately layered wine from our coolest Russian River Valley Vineyard is sourced entirely from the Mt. Eden clone. Gorgeous blackberry, plum, violet and lavender aromas meld with a touch of mineral. Bright and juicy on the palate, blueberry flavors layer with plum while soft bergamot notes linger on the silky, refreshing finish.
2014 EnRoute Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, Hop Kiln Vineyard
One of our first vineyards to be harvested each year, the 2014 vintage shows beautiful depth and fruit intensity. On the nose, blackberry, boysenberry and plum impressions mix with a bouquet of dried sage and crushed rose petals. The entry is silky and layered, with a rich, dark fruits progressing from nose to palate.
We hope we'll have more opportunities to pour these wines together in the future. Until then, browse our current selection of EnRoute wines or Get on the List for future vintages of our Single-Vineyard Pinots.
And, for visual inspiration, we invite you to enjoy theEnRoute Salon Photo Album here.
