The founders of Far Niente Winery in the Napa Valley, a great name in Chardonnay and Cabernet, are finally unveiling what has been known as a secret project, a new Russian River project called EnRoute devoted to Pinot Noir.

The initial release of EnRoute is due out this September, debuting with "Les Pommiers," a 2007 Pinot Noir from vineyard sources in the Green Valley and upper Middle Reach area of the Russian River Valley AVA.

The partners include Beth, Erik and Jeremy Nickel as well as Dirk Hampson and Larry Maguire, who jointly own EnRoute in addition to Far Niente, Dolce and Nickel & Nickel. For this project they bought two additional vineyards in Sonoma County - the Graton Vineyard, a 21.5 acre parcel planted to Pommard 5, Mt. Eden, Swan, 2A and Dijon clones 115 and 777. They also bought Amber Ridge Vineyard off Starr Road, 22 acres planted in 2000 to Pommard 5, Calera and Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777. Fruit from the 8-acre Manzana Vineyard also contributed to the blend.

The winemaking is being done by Andrew Delos, a former assistant winemaker at Nickel & Nickely and Pellegrini Family Winery, with the oversight of director of winemaking Dirk Hampson.

1,275 cases produced. Retail said to be in the neighborhood of $50.