The Roots Wine Company is a small winery in the Willamette Valley of Oregon. Winemaker Chris Berg was born in Racine, Wisconsin and named his reserve bottlings “Racine.” Made only in top vintages, Racine wines exhibit both the quality of the fruit and the excellence of the winemaker’s craft. He made four single-vineyard Racine bottlings in 2014, but his Racine Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir is truly exceptional. Planted on a steep hillside in the Yamhill-Carlton District, the first vines were planted here in 1999. The 2014 Racine Estate Pinot Noir reflects the ripeness of that harvest. The bouquet reveals pure ripe cherry, blackberry and raspberry fruits interwoven with floral, vanilla, cocoa and spice nuances. On the palate, its impressive layers of cherry, blackberry, and raspberry fruits are enhanced by nuances of vanilla, cocoa, cinnamon and clove. It has a full texture and mouthfeel. This rich, elegant and multilayered Pinot Noir will age well for another 5 to 10 years.
Roots Wine Company, Yamhill-Carlton District AVA (Willamette Valley, Oregon) Pinot Noir 2014
By Wayne Belding