En Route, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2008

 Wine writers rarely use the word “smooth” to describe wines, but that is a term of endearment for many consumers.  If you are a consumer who values textural “smoothness,” then this is your baby, as I cannot recall a wine that I’ve tasted for years that deserves this descriptor more.  Made by the partners behind Napa’s Far Niente, En Route is weighty and ripe at a stated alcohol level of 14.8%, and the dark cherry fruit shows nice little accents of spices and smoke.  However, it is really the texture that is the story here, and though some tasters would prefer a more structured, defined “feel,” I found this seriously sexy.