Tasting Notes

A seductive and silky wine with red cherry and cranberry aromas that offer plenty of appeal. Cherry and spice flavors mingle on the palate showing intensity, depth and plenty of structure. Smoothly textured tannins are evident, leading to a spiced, supple finish.

About Maison L’Envoyé

Maison L’Envoyé, ‘The House of the Messenger,’ tirelessly explores the finest sites dedicated to the cultivation of Pinot Noir. We strive to craft wines that not only sing of their origins, but are also delicious in their own right.

Driven by a tireless hunt for elusive sites where Pinot Noir shines, Maison L’Envoyé traverses the globe with the intention of presenting the acme of regionality and winemaking styles. With winemaking footprints in Burgundy and the Willamette Valley, Oregon, we champion many unsung growers who have farmed their vineyards for decades and generations, some mere feet away from more illustriously cited neighbors. This project has been a standout since our debut in 2011 including Wine & Spirits naming Maison L’Envoyé a ‘Winery To Watch’ in 2015.

Originating in Burgundy, we pursued gilded terroir to craft this region’s grape trinity: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Gamay Noir. Yet from this tenor of focus and commitment a global fellowship emerged, with terroir-driven Pinot Noir as the linchpin. In Burgundy, our winemaking team is based in the town of Beaune, drawing from several sites including our own monopole, Chateau Vivier, in Beaujolais’ Fleurie cru. In Oregon’s Willamette Valley, carefully selected rows of Pinot Noir are sourced from both volcanic and sedimentary based soils primarily in Yamhill-Carlton, Ribbon Ridge and Eola-Amity Hills.

Our approach in the vineyard combines tailored viticulture and vigilant diligence. Each growing season and unique block is taken into account. We consider the site, specific soil characteristics, elevation, aspect, rainfall, and vine age. We lean heavily towards organic and biodynamic regimes, with a strict mindset of growing Pinot Noir rather than farming grapes.

Many precise and specific winemaking techniques are employed that together produce a soulful and generous expression of the fruit flavors while avoiding any heavy tannin, rough edges or alcoholic extraction. Picking fully physiologically ripe berries, often later than much of the valley, consulting winemaker Louis-Michel Liger-Belair’s infusion technique is more akin to steeping rather than an aggressive extraction process.