2011 ENSO Mourvèdre Winemakers’ Reserve – COMING SOON

Mmm-ourvèdre. The grape every tries hard to pronounce. Yet it’s so easy to sip, savor and drink.

For this special bottling, we held back our 2 favorite barrels from the 2011 vintage. The 2 barrels that showed the most significant promise. After fermenting them naturally (adding no yeasts or additives), we let them sit in barrel an additional 6 months and in bottle an additional 4 months.

Savory and silky, complex and delicious. Gamey aromas mixed with ripe berries and Northwest garrigue.

This wine can be aged for as many as 10-15 years. Hang on to it as long as you desire.

DETAILS:

12.5% alc / 50 cases produced / $40 (Available July 28)

PAIRINGS:

The sexy savory of this red wine suggests lamb, rabbit or wild boar…roasted.

2011 The Prince – COMING SOON

We love to experiment here at ENSO. And we like to attempt old-world approaches with our new-world fruit. This is a truly old-world wine.

When the Prince de Conti purchased the Romanée Estate hundreds of years ago, he instructed the winemaker to make the red Burgundies with a judicious amount of white grapes. So we thought we’d try that ourselves!

This wine is a field blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay grapes. By blending the grapes (not just finished wines), their different aromas, textures and flavors coalesce and integrate early on. You might think this would produce a light-colored red, but in fact, it creates a darker and richer Pinot Noir that still remains elegant and bright.

We recommend laying this wine down for 5-7 years…or at least until Thanksgiving 2013!

DETAILS:

12.1% alc / 70 cases produced / $40 (Available July 28, 2013)

PAIRINGS:

You’ll be happy to have this on your table with your Thanksgiving feast.

LABEL INSPIRATION:

Wondering who that handsome fella on the label is? Well, you guessed it. It’s the Prince de Conti. But with a few Portland hipster adjustments.

2011 Chateauneuf du Stark – COMING SOON

Our Winemaker’s Blend. Each year, we take the best of what we’ve got in barrel and make the perfect blend. A little of this; a little of that. While not being a true “Chateauneuf du Pape” blend, we like to take inspiration from that region that allows as many as 16 different grape varieties in it!

The 2011 blend is…

45% Counoise
35% Mourvèdre
10% Petite Sirah
9% Zinfandel
1% Malbec

This is a wine that can be cellared for many years. We recommend laying it down for 3-5 years, but it is drinking quite nicely right now! So you get to choose.

DETAILS:

12.9% alc / 50 cases produced / $40 (Available July 28, 2013)

PAIRINGS:

This wine is quite versatile, but will do well with a little bit of breathing time. Decant the wine while you roast up some fall-spiced meat.

2012 ENSO Grenache

These were the first grapes we harvested in 2012. They’re grown high up on the golden hills that line the beautiful Columbia River, receiving lavish amounts of sun and wind to help them ripen without being spoiled rotten. We bottled this medium-bodied red wine in it’s youth, so as to capture it’s fruit-forward vitality.

DETAILS:

13.6% alc / 50 cases produced / $25 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

Chill this red wine for about 20-30 minutes just prior to dinner!

2012 ENSO Orange Wine

This is something altogether new for us. Pinot Gris tends to make bright, fruity white wines, but when fermented with the skins (where the color in wine comes from), you get something more akin to a rosé. But not a rosé exactly. Rough and rugged, savory with notes of black tea and cumin, this floral-yet-savory wine will blow your mind.

DETAILS:

11.6% alc / 38 cases produced / $25 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

Chill and drink on it’s own…or with some oven-roasted lamb.

2012 ENSO Dry Rosé

Each year we get to re-invent the rosé. This year, we co-fermented Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc in stainless steel to create a beautiful, balanced dry rosé. As we say, “Portland Summer In a Bottle”. Aromas of ripe strawberries, brambly raspberries, and a touch of vanilla. Fruity, but not sweet!

DETAILS:

12.9% alc / 84 cases produced / $22 (Order Online)

AWARDS:

- BRONZE at the 2013 Great Northwest Wine Competition

PAIRINGS:

Pairs perfectly with grilled chicken and veggies, soft cheeses, or an afternoon at the park in the sun!

2012 ENSO Pinot Blanc

Mmm-mmm-mmm. This refreshing, crisp white wine is bursting with green apple and herbal tones. Aging on the lees for 3 months in stainless steel rounds it out with a smooth finish. Floral aromas of white flowers and pears with a lovely hint of lychee nut in the finish.

DETAILS:

12.4% alc / 100 cases produced / $20 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

You can pair this wine with fish, poultry or soft cheeses, but you’ll be surprised to find that it also works quite well with a seasoned steak or juicy porkchop right off the grill. Believe it.

2011 ENSO Petite Sirah

It may have “petite” in it’s name, but this wine is nothing short of huge! Petite Sirah (originally called “Durif”) has small berries which means that during fermentation, there is a higher skin-to-juice ratio, resulting in a robust red wine with a long, lingering finish. A rugged wine with dark fruits and vanilla make this a superb choice for drinking on it’s own…or pairing with a juicy ribeye right off the grill.

DETAILS:

13.1% alc / 108 cases produced / $32 (Order Online)

AWARDS:

- BRONZE at the 2013 San Francisco International Wine Competition

PAIRINGS:

A petite Sirah offers strong textures, but quite mild flavors to a meal.

2011 ENSO Malbec

What do you get when you mix just the right amount of sun and rain with a long growing season? Fully-ripened Malbec grapes that are the perfect balance of velvet and spice. This is one of our favorite wines to make. Rich and dark in tone, custardy and smooth in feel. A perfect companion to any steak or grilled dish. A burst of fruit and pepper married with a long finish leave you wanting some more.

DETAILS:

13.3% alc / 108 cases produced / $28 (Order Online)

AWARDS/RATINGS:

- BRONZE at the 2013 San Francisco International Wine Competition
- Wine Spectator: 89 points – “Fresh and distinctive, offering roasted meat and toasted bread overtones around a deft core of currant and blackberry fruit. Lingers with refinement. Drink now through 2016.”

PAIRINGS:

This fruit-forward Malbec is ready for some risotto and grilled mushrooms. Or a steak. Yah, a steak.

2011 ENSO Mourvèdre

Mourvèdre is always the last grape to ripen. When we harvested these beloved grapes in November, the leaves on the vines were orange, red, and yellow. The plant was ready to hibernate for the winter. It’s the perfect condition for making whole-cluster fermented Mourvèdre since the stems begin to harden and brown.

Chalk and strawberries balanced by dried herb tones and grapefruit aromas make this one of the most memorable reds around!

DETAILS:

12.1% alc / 72 cases produced / $35 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

The savoriness of this red suggests lamb. Roasted lamb. And potatoes. With rosemary. Mmm.

2011 ENSO Zinfandel

Zinfandel has been called America’s Heritage Wine. Grown up and down the West Coast, it’s a grape that is often misunderstood. “Is it white, pink, or red?” Oh brother. Given the right vintage, soil and climate, Zinfandel is the perfect triangulation of fruit, spice and earth. And that’s what 2011’s cool, long growing season gave to us. We just did our best not to mess it up! Enjoy this among friends.

DETAILS:

14.5% alc / 108 cases produced / $28 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

A classic jammy Zin goes well with anything grilled and peppered. So do it. Just do it.

2011 ENSO Counoise

Counoise is a rare grape in the Pacific Northwest, grown on just a handful of vineyards. It’s traditionally been a blending grape, offering softness to big red wines. But we decided to bottle this delicate wine on it’s own. Bright red fruit is balanced by floral tones, and this wine was aged in completely neutral oak so that the wine could breathe without acquiring “barrel notes”. Quite French is style and texture.

We describe Counoise as a sort of “happy Pinot Noir”. Bright red fruit instead of dark red fruit. Less brooding; more lively.

DETAILS:

12.5% alc / 108 cases produced / $30 (Order Online)

AWARDS:

- SILVER at the 2013 Great Northwest Wine Competition

PAIRINGS:

A great wine to sip on it’s own or pair with soft cheeses.

RESONATE Red #7

These grapes were destined to be together. The Barbera offers it’s signature bramble and lively acid while the Sangiovese roots the wine with it’s depth and texture. Aging in French oak barrels for 18 months tames these wild beasts. Sip, drink, but do not guzzle. We hope this delicious red blend resonates with you and all who gather at your table.

These grapes come from Walla Walla AVA in Washington State.

DETAILS:

13.8% alc / 144 cases produced / $16 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

Let’s see…what doesn’t this wine pair with?

RESONATE White #5

This thoughtful blend of crisp Sauvignon Blanc from Washington and peaches-and-cream Müller-Thurgau from the Oregon is the perfect mealtime companion. Fermented and aged in stainless steel with minimal handling allow the grapes strut their stuff. We hope this delicious wine resonates with you and yours!

DETAILS:

12.1% alc / 240 cases produced / $14 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

This bright white wine is ready for some delicious roasted veggies with Aardvark sauce.

RESONATE Rosé #2 – SOLD OUT

How do you describe this dry rosé from the Willamette Valley? “Fruit and leather,” is how we say it. And people always wonder, “What does leather taste like?” Hmm. Good question. Last time I ate some…just kidding.

I guess what we’re trying to say is that there’s a spice/pepper element to this wine that is savory and rich, tanned. Like our skin during that one great week in August.

This rosé is primarily Pinot Noir, but also has a touch of Petite Sirah, Chardonnay, and Syrah. Mmm. That’s pure deliciousness.

DETAILS:

12.8% alc / 50 cases produced / $14 (Order Online)

PAIRINGS:

This lovely dry rosé pairs nicely with rich dishes and darker salami.

2011 ENSO Pinot Gris – SOLD OUT

A very cool, damp spring and summer had us all biting our nails, concerned that the grapes wouldn’t ripen. But October gave us just the right amount of sunshine and dry wind to mature these beloved grapes into a brilliant expression of Willamette Valley terroir. Asian pears, orange blossoms, and chalk. This will will pair well with fatty dishes and soft cheeses. Can be aged for 3-5 years for optimal flavors & aromas.

DETAILS:

13.1% alc / 90 cases produced / $20 (Order Online)

AWARDS:

- SILVER at the 2012 NW Wine Summit

PAIRINGS:

This dry Pinot Gris is just waiting to be paired with that cola-glazed porkchop you’ve been meaning to grill!

2011 ENSO Riesling

Some have called Riesling the king of grapes, able to showcase the region where it was grown more than any other varietal. Well we sure find this wine to be expressive! At once bright and floral, yet rich and smokey. Cold-fermented to retain the delicate aromas and flavors that make this wine a perfect seafood companion. Lemongrass, citrus rind, fresh mint, and maple syrup are just some of the notes you’ll get from this off-dry Riesling.

DETAILS:

11.4% alc / 90 cases produced / $20 (Order Online)

AWARDS:

- BRONZE at the 2012 NW Wine Summit
- Chosen by WinePress Northwest Magazine as one of their 3 favorite Rieslings

PAIRINGS:

This off-dry Riesling pairs perfectly with spicier cuisine such as Indian or spicy Thai. It also works exceptionally well with creamy cheeses and fatty salami.

2011 ENSO Dry Rosé – SOLD OUT

Each year we get the chance to re-invent the rosé. So this time, we decided to co-ferment Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris to create something all-together new. Portland summer in a bottle: Sun, spice, and passion. A delicate balance of playfulness and thoughtfulness. Bursting with ripe strawberries and smoke, this dry rosé will knock your mother’s socks off. Yours, too.

These grapes come from the Wheatland Vineyard in the Willamette Valley, our old stomping grounds.

DETAILS:

12.6% alc / 50 cases produced / $22 SOLD OUT

PAIRINGS:

Um, this wine pairs well with sunshine and picnics. And Thanksgiving supper.

2010 ENSO Chateauneuf du Stark – SOLD OUT

We reserved one barrel’s worth of red wine (a unique blend of Petite Sirah, Cinsault, Counoise, Mourvédre, Malbec and Zinfandel) from 2010 to age an additional year in barrel. We call it our Chateauneuf du Stark, taking inspiration from wines of Southern France. Now, this doesn’t necessarily use all Chateauneuf du Pape grapes, but we were inspired by a wine that has as many as 13 different varietals in it!

49% Petite Sirah
24% Zinfandel
19% Cinsault
6% Mourvèdre
1% Malbec
1% Counoise

Ready to drink now, but you will be rewarded if you can cellar it for 3-7 years.

DETAILS:

14.5% alc / 24 cases produced / $36 SOLD OUT

PAIRINGS:

A rich wine that demands something cooked in butter. Lots of butter.