EnRoute Pinot Noir Les Pommiers Russian River Valley 2022 (750ml)

 

EnRoute is dedicated to capturing the essence of pure varietal and terroir expression.  Named for the apple orchards that grew here, Les Pommiers Pinot Noir is from Pedigreed Green Valley Vineyards located in the heart of the Russian River Valley and the upper Middle Reach Regions.  The signature style is a rich tapestry offering the best of the Russian River Valley.

 

En Route Pinot Noir “Les Pommiers”

 

Russian River Valley 2022

 

Blended from three of the most coveted vineyards in the Russian River Valley, the 2022 vintage was marked by near-perfect weather conditions.  The resulting wine is generous yet soft, with notes of strawberry preserves and fresh rain on the forest floor.

 

First Vintage:  2007

 

Winemaker:  Michael Accurso

 

Director of Winemaking:  Andrew Delos

 

Appellation:  Russian River Valley

 

Varietal:  100% Pinot Noir

 

Harvest Dates:  August 18 – September 28, 2022

 

Fermentation:  Open top fermentation, daily punch-downs

 

Skin Contact:  14 Day Average

 

Aging:  10 Months in new French oak barrels (30% new / 70% neutral)

 

Release Date:  Fall 2023

 

Alcohol Level:  14.5%

 

Sensory Evaluation

 

Aromas of fresh raspberry compote are complemented by notes of baking spice, and fresh rain on a forest floor.  Generous-yet-soft strawberry preserve flavors expand on the palate, with elegant, silky tannins.  A mouthwatering acidity glides across the finish.

 

Vineyard Description

 

Our Northern Spy Vineyard in Russian River Valley’s Green Valley AVA was an abandoned apple orchard that was groomed specifically for EnRoute.  We are thrilled with the quality of the fruit coming from this site, which grows on the region’s famous Goldridge soils.  Pommard 5, Mt. Eden, Swan, 2A and Dijon clones 115 and 777 are planted on 101-14 rootstock with 4 x 7 spacing in this vineyard.  Our Amber Ridge Vineyard is located on rolling terrain in the upper Middle Reach area of the Russian River Valley.  Planted with bilateral vertical trellising, the clonal mix includes Pommard 5, Calera and Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777 using 101-14 rootstock to limit vigor.  Manzana Vineyard continues to play an important role in the Les Pommiers blend, with its hillside fruit planted in Green Valley to Dijon clones 114, 115 and Pommard 5.

 

Harvest Notes

 

Early budbreak and near perfect weather conditions throughout the summer allowed us to start picking our Russian River Pinot Noir in mid-August.  Our estate Amber Ridge vineyard, located in the warmer middle reach area, was our first pick as usual.  Some of our earlier Green Valley and Laguna Ridge sites were next to come in around the end of August.  A Labor Day heat wave kicked the harvest into full gear as we continued to harvest from all around the Russian River Valley.  We finished up the season with fruit from our cooler sites in the Sebastopol Hills neighborhood.

 

 

EnRoute Winery

 

Russian River Valley

 

EnRoute was established in the Russian River Valley in 2007 by the partners of Napa Valley’s Far Niente winery as a culmination of over 30 years of passion for Pinot Noir.   Devoted to producing Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, EnRoute introduced its first wine, “Les Pommiers” Pinot Noir, in May 2009 with the 2007 vintage.   Les Pommiers is named for the apple orchards that once flourished in the region, and reflects a blend of vineyards primarily from the Green Valley and Sonoma Coast appellations within the overlapping Russian River Valley AVA.

 

The name, EnRoute, is a nod to the journey taken to produce the best Pinot Noir possible.  While Far Niente’s vision is exclusively focused on Napa Valley Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon, its partners still enjoyed traveling and tasting the great Pinot Noirs of the world.  Eventually, sister winery Nickel & Nickel’s single-vineyard program provided the opportunity to venture into the Russian River Valley.  After a few years of producing wines from the Russian River Valley AVA under the Nickel & Nickel label, the partners made a serious commitment to the region, acquired remarkable vineyards, and established EnRoute.

 

Inspired by a few special, individual lots used to comprise the Les Pommiers blend, in 2013, EnRoute introduced Single-Vineyard Pinot Noir wines.  EnRoute currently offers four Single-Vineyard bottlings from distinct sites throughout the Russian River Valley.

 

EnRoute also expanded its portfolio in 2013 to include EnRoute “Brumaire” Chardonnay, which is named for the morning fog that famously envelops the Russian River Valley.