We want to make wine that matters, wine that meets you where you’re at…and takes you even further. Our red wines are lucious and earthy, each one a unique expression of the moment—an enso.
Our reds are fermented in small batches and aged for 9-18 months in a variety of French and American (yes, we said American) oak barrels. We attempt spontaneous fermentation when possible.
Most of our red wine grapes come from the Columbia Valley…Horse Heaven Hills to be specific.
They can all be aged for several years…if you have the patience.
2012 ENSO Grenache
These were the rst 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!
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.
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.