Racine Wine Company
Klee, Roots, Blacklight, Racine
Carlton, Oregon
Racine Wine Company is a small production, multi-label operation. Each label focuses on bringing out different nuances of Pinot Noir from making a wine that is a good value & approachable (Klee) to focused and refined (Racine) and single vineyard features (Roots). The Klee label is a limited production series to honor the artist Paul Klee. A simplicity yet elegance in style is what these wines are all about. The 2006 Pinot Noir 'Willamette Valley' is made with fruit sourced from multiple vineyards in the Chehalem Mountains and Yamhill-Carlton appellations using Pommard and Dijon 115, 114, 777 clone stock. It was then barrel aged in 10% new oak for nine months. Only 300 cases were produced by winemaker Chris Berg. This Pinot is very approachable and perfumes bubblegum, marionberry, and cassis. These flavors fill the mouth as the neutral barrel aging allowed the fruit to express itself making the wine deep and silky.
Roots is a fine lineup featuring different styles of winemaking and several very low production single vineyard designates. Crosshairs Cuvee is sourced from Washington County's Cherry Grove and Leroy Vineyards. Cherry Grove is within Willakenzie soils and is L.I.V.E. certified. Leroy is grown sustainably and is within Laurelwood soils. Pinot Noir clones utilized include old vine Pommard and Wadenswill and younger Dijon 777. This wine was aged in 10% new oak for 12 months with a case volume of 350 cases. Apolloni Vineyard is a L.I.V.E. certified vineyard near Forest Grove, Oregon on south facing slopes at 350' to 500' elevation. This selection is composed of Dijon 777 clone and aged for 16 months in 50% new oak. Production volume is 50 cases for 2006 vintage. 49 Rows Vineyard is a 3 acre vineyard in Willakenzie soils planted with Pommard, Wadenswill and Dijon 115 clones. Aged for 16 months in 30% new oak. Roots Estate Vineyard is 6.5 acres within the Yamhill-Carlton AVA and is planted with Dijon 777, 115, & 113 clones. They grow in Willakenzie soils which are fine silty clay loams derived from sandstone and common in the region. This Vineyard is owned & farmed by the Winemaker who implements his own special version of organic style agriculture. The wine is aged for 16 months in 20% new oak.
Where available in humboldt:
2007 Roots Viognier
2007 Klee Pinot
2007 Roots Viognier
2006 Racine Pinot
2007 Roots Pinot Noir 'Crosshairs Cuvee'
2007 Roots Viognier
2007 Klee Pinot
Oberon Grill
2007 Roots Viognier
2006 Racine Pinot
Other Locations:
Grounds
2006 Roots Pinot Noir 'Estate'
Sampling port from the barrel.
The barrel racks for Racine Wine Co. From neutral to new, the winemaking technique focuses on producing approachable wines by combining intimate production techniques and conservation of materials.
Winemaker Chris Berg and assistant sampling the fresh '07 vintage just racked into barrel (above). The '06 Pinots are looking pretty good also! (below).
Cheers!
View looking northwest from Roots Estate vineyard.
Feeling Rootsy? Welcome to the 6.5 acre Estate Vineyard! Farmed with love.
Soils at the Roots Estate Vineyard are Willakenzie which are derived from sandstone and form silty clay loams (above & below).
View looking north from the 7 acre Roots Estate. On the hills in the background is the much larger Willakenzie Estates.