En Route Pinot Noir Les Pommiers

En Route Pinot Noir Les Pommiers is a 100% Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, bottled at 14.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Produced under the Far Niente family of wineries, Les Pommiers draws from vineyards rooted in the agricultural legacy of the region's historic apple orchards — a provenance story that directly shapes the wine's character.

Quick Facts: ABV: 14.5%  |  Origin: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California  |  Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir  |  Winery: En Route (Far Niente)

Production & Heritage

En Route was established by Far Niente — the Oakville estate founded in 1885 — as a dedicated Pinot Noir project focused exclusively on Russian River Valley fruit. The Les Pommiers bottling takes its name from the French word for apple trees, a nod to the region's orchard heritage; notably, the Northern Spy Vineyard sourced for this wine was once an abandoned apple orchard that was converted and groomed specifically for En Route's Pinot Noir program. Grapes are farmed according to organic principles and the wine is aged in a combination of new and once-used French oak barrels, balancing structure with fruit purity. The 2022 vintage earned a Silver medal at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Bing cherry leads the nose, followed by muddled blackberry, wild raspberry, and plum. Secondary waves reveal baking spice, oolong tea, candied orange peel, and subtle floral accents.

Taste: The entry is juicy and coating, unfolding layers of raspberry and cherry pie filling across a midweight palate. Dried rose petal and confectionary notes add complexity at the mid-palate, while mineral undertones and toasty oak provide depth. A captivating interplay between snappy tannin structure and lively acidity keeps the wine focused and energetic.

Finish: Medium-long with lingering berry fruit, baking spice, and a thread of forest floor earthiness. The tannins resolve smoothly, leaving a clean, slightly savory close.

How to Drink Les Pommiers

Serve slightly below room temperature — around 58–62°F — to let the aromatics open gradually. This is a wine built for the glass, rewarding patient sipping neat, though a brief decant of 20–30 minutes can soften younger vintages. For cocktail-adjacent serves: try it in a Pinot Noir Sangria with stone fruit and citrus, where its cherry intensity holds up; a New York Sour (layered atop a whiskey sour), where the berry and spice notes add dimension; or a classic Kalimotxo riff with premium cola, where the wine's acidity and fruit sweetness create a surprisingly balanced long drink.

Best For

• Gifting a Pinot Noir enthusiast who appreciates Russian River Valley terroir
• Pairing with a holiday roast or Thanksgiving dinner centerpiece
• Building a vertical or horizontal tasting of single-vineyard Sonoma Pinots
• A Friday evening wind-down wine that rewards quiet, focused attention

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Les Pommiers taste like? Les Pommiers delivers ripe Bing cherry and raspberry pie filling on a midweight palate, accented by baking spice, dried rose petal, and oolong tea, with snappy tannins and bright acidity providing structure.

How does Les Pommiers compare to Ken Wright Willamette Valley Pinot Noir? Ken Wright's Willamette Valley bottling tends toward a leaner, more earth-driven Oregon style with higher natural acidity and restrained fruit. Les Pommiers leans riper and more plush, reflecting Russian River Valley's warmer climate and longer hang time, with more prominent berry sweetness and fuller body.

Is Les Pommiers good for sipping neat? Absolutely — its midweight palate, layered aromatics, and balanced tannin-acidity structure make it an ideal neat-sipping Pinot Noir that rewards slow, attentive drinking.

Where is Les Pommiers made? Les Pommiers is produced by En Route, a winery within the Far Niente family, using fruit sourced from vineyards in the Russian River Valley AVA of Sonoma County, California. The Northern Spy Vineyard, a former apple orchard converted for Pinot Noir, is a key source.

What foods pair well with Les Pommiers? Roast duck or duck confit, where the wine's cherry fruit echoes classic pairings; grilled salmon with a berry reduction; mushroom risotto, which complements the earthy forest-floor undertones; aged Gruyère or Comté cheese for a spice-and-fruit contrast; and herb-roasted pork tenderloin, which mirrors the wine's savory-sweet balance.

What sizes does Les Pommiers come in? En Route Les Pommiers is available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Les Pommiers worth the price? Les Pommiers positions as a premium Russian River Valley Pinot Noir backed by the Far Niente pedigree and vineyard-specific sourcing. For drinkers seeking estate-quality Sonoma Pinot with a genuine sense of place, it represents strong value within its tier.

Why Les Pommiers?

What distinguishes Les Pommiers from the broader field of Russian River Valley Pinots is its direct connection to a specific piece of agricultural history — fruit grown on land that was once an apple orchard, converted and managed exclusively for this wine. That vineyard provenance, combined with organic farming principles and judicious French oak aging, produces a Pinot Noir with genuine site expression rather than a house style imposed on generic fruit. The 2022 vintage's Silver medal at the TEXSOM International Wine Awards confirms its competitive standing among California Pinot Noirs. Within the Far Niente portfolio, Les Pommiers stands as a focused, terroir-driven expression that justifies close attention from serious Pinot Noir drinkers.