EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2019, crafted by the esteemed EnRoute winery, exemplifies superior winemaking tradition. Nestled in the prestigious Russian River Valley appellation of California, the winery employs meticulous artisan techniques to capture the distinctive flavours of various vineyard sites.

Proprietary clones are hand-selected, and meticulously farmed until they reach optimal maturity, then hand-sorted at harvest to ensure pristine quality. Each small lot is fermented separately to preserve the individual character. Vinted utilising traditional Burgundian practices including open top fermenters and native yeast fermentation, this Pinot Noir bursts with complex, layered red fruit tones.

The 2019 vintage marries rich intensity with graceful elegance, offering enticing aromas of ripe black cherry, dried flowers and exotic spice, leading to plush, full-bodied palate, with a harmonious, lingering finish. Trust this meticulously crafted, iconic EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2019 for an elevated wine experience.

Dive into the exquisite world of the EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2021, a quintessential expression of the Russian River Valley in California. This robust yet elegantly balanced Pinot Noir is produced by the esteemed Far Niente family of wineries, known for crafting meticulous and refined wines. The unique terroir of their Pommiers vineyard, with its cool, fog-kissed climate and well-drained Goldridge sandy loam, brings out an enchanting blend of opulent fruit notes and earthy undertones.

Aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, it yields an intoxicating nose of cherry, raspberry, and spiced plum, with subtle notes of savoury herbs and toasty oak. The palate is vibrant with red and black berry flavours, underscored by lively acidity and smooth, mouth-coating tannins. A typical Pinot Noir with expressive complexity, the EnRoute Pinot Noir Pommiers 2021 continues the winemaker's commitment to expressive, terroir-driven wine. It's truly a profound, indulgent experience for the discerning oenophile.

Vinous (92)

The 2018 Don Maximiano is 70% Cabernet, 15% Malbec, 7% Carménère, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc from Panquehue, Aconcagua. Intense purple in the glass, it delivers a nose of red fruit with plum, a little jam, black currant, mint, balsamic notes and rose over secondary woody aromas. Ample and juicy on the palate with good energy; the tannins are fine and the flavors intense. A wine that might be described as the missing link between the past and the present.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2017 Aconcagua Costa Las Pizarras Chardonnay is really fascinating, and it's even sharper, more restrained and with higher acidity than the 2016 that I tasted next to it. Winemaker Francisco Pancho Baettig is really pushing the wine to the limits—harvesting early and with more concentration and structure achieved through lower yields, which provides depth and complexity. The origin is the same as for 2016, and so is the vinification and aging in French barriques for almost 13 months. This is really young and austere, and it took some time in the glass to open up. It has Chablis-like definition, austerity and crispness; it's pure, mineral, long, precise like a laser cut, symmetric and chiseled. Even if it's sharp and citrusy, the palate has more volume and depth, and some nutty notes appear after some time. It's more like a Meursault than a Chablis this time, with great length, and I couldn't help but think of the whites from Jean-Marc Roulot when tasting this. It's a monumental mineral white, with the coastal freshness and the slate tastiness. This is hands down the best vintage of Las Pizarras and the best Chardonnay I've ever tasted from Chile. It's amazing how this wine has developed in only four vintages. As an American friend of mine would say, it's awesome beyond belief! 7,000 bottles were filled in March 2018.

James Suckling (99)

I love the aromas of lavender, sandalwood, sliced apples and pears. Some gunpowder and slate undertones. Full-bodied, yet formed and tight with minerality and brightness. Vivid acidity gives this energy and depth. Drinkable, but will age beautifully.

James Suckling (98)

A complex, structured young chardonnay and clearly the best in Chile. It shows lavender, sliced green apples, white peaches, flint and stone. Quince. Sea wood. Cement. Salt. Very complex. Full-bodied, yet very tight with a linear, compressed palate. Energetic acidity. Endless finish. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (97)

Real depth for a chardonnay, with lots of limey, smoky green fruit, chalky, flinty citrus, stones and oyster shells. Pure, full-bodied and mouthwatering, with laser beams of acidity cutting through the taut, textured palate. Bright, long and pure with a delicious, austere edge. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (98)

Punchy minerals cut through the creamy lemon and limey citrus, almost like licking wet stones! Some green apples, too. Steely, with a hint of white flowers and white almond. Very transparent and vertical but this is not a typical full-bodied chardonnay, it is rather linear, tense and electric. Sharpened minerality lingers in a lengthy, mineral finish. An extremely gastronomic and mouthwatering chardonnay. Drink now or hold.

James Suckling (98)

Astonishing purity and youthful freshness, the white-peach, Asian-pear and candied Amalfi-lemon aromas incredibly vivid. Super-focused, medium-bodied palate with staggering vitality and energy. This is very concentrated, but the refreshing acidity makes it feel so light on its feet. Then comes the diamond-bright minerality at the finish. Surely the best white wine from this producer to date! Made from vines planted in 2005. Drink or hold. 20th Anniversary Berlin Tasting Event, February 2024.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2023 Las Pizarras Chardonnay represents another benchmark iteration of this bottling. It fermented and aged in 300- and 400-liter barrels, with 12% being new, and it underwent partial malolactic conversion. It opens with a crystal-clear nose of stone fruits, white flowers and citrus zest, enlivened by an oceanic freshness. On the palate, it perfectly balances vibrant energy and textural breadth, culminating in a snappy, energetic and focused finish with impressive length—a definitive example of contemporary Chilean Chardonnay.

Wine Advocate (95)

I also tasted two consecutive vintages of the slate Pinot Noir, and the oldest of the two is the 2016 Aconcagua Costa Las Pizarras Pinot Noir, which fermented with 18% full clusters in open vats after a cold soak and had a 20-day maceration. It matured for some 14 months in French barriques, 33% of them new. It has that iodine-like or fresh blood note I associate with schist and iron soils. This seems fresher and more precise than the previous 2015, unlike what I saw in the Chardonnay bottlings. It's nicely textured, with ultra refined tannins that provide some grip and stick to your teeth. 6,500 bottles were filled in May 2017.

Wine Advocate (95)

I also tasted two consecutive vintages of the slate Pinot Noir, and the oldest of the two is the 2016 Aconcagua Costa Las Pizarras Pinot Noir, which fermented with 18% full clusters in open vats after a cold soak and had a 20-day maceration. It matured for some 14 months in French barriques, 33% of them new. It has that iodine-like or fresh blood note I associate with schist and iron soils. This seems fresher and more precise than the previous 2015, unlike what I saw in the Chardonnay bottlings. It's nicely textured, with ultra refined tannins that provide some grip and stick to your teeth. 6,500 bottles were filled in May 2017.

James Suckling (98-99)

I love the aromas of smoked meat, dried strawberries and spices. Some resin and pine-needle undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with plenty of fruit and linear tannins running through the middle of the wine. Juicy and refined. Purity and greatness. Drink on release or hold.

Vinous (96)

The 2023 Pinot Noir Las Pizarras comes from Quillota, about 12 kilometers from the cold Pacific waters of the Humboldt Current. The 2023 underwent cold maceration before fermenting with 2% whole clusters, followed by 12 months of aging in 400-liter barrels (55% new). Purple in hue, it offers aromas of blood orange peel, pomegranate, a hint of iodine, and rosehip, with delicate reduction adding complexity. The palate is lined with fine, slightly compact tannins and high acidity, lingering with a soft, powdery texture. This is a beautiful coastal wine, finely calibrated between freshness and texture.

James Suckling (96)

Sour black cherries, violets and a touch of peppercorns and chaparral. Really fresh and crunchy with al-dente fruit and tannins on the medium-bodied palate. Freshness is the key here, and there seems to be more fruit in this vintage. Drinkable now, but better from 2025.

Wine Advocate (96)

The 2023 Las Pizarras Syrah stands out as one of Chile's most aromatically exotic and intense examples of Syrah, beginning with an alluring bouquet of black fruits, grilled meats, incense, sandalwood and purple flowers. The palate is exceptionally dense, concentrated and taut, culminating in a lifted, multidimensional finish that strikes a midpoint between rich, savory and refreshing. Similar to my experience with the 2022 iteration of this wine, the nose here continuously evolves, revealing an increasingly floral and perfumed complexity. It fermented with 15% whole clusters and matured for 16 months in 60% French barrels and 40% Austrian foudre.

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