Dec 30, 2022
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Roots Wine Company
| Owner(s) | Christian Berg, Hilary Berg |
| Web site | www.rootswine.com |
| Link to this site |
Roots is a family affair owned by Christian (Chris) and Hilary Berg. Hailing from Racine, Wisconsin and raised in Idaho, Pennsylvania and Illinois, Chris, who has a degree in English from University of Kansas, became interested in wine when his parents bought a manufacturing company in Tualatin, Oregon and moved west from Illinois. The Berg family acquired a 20-acre property near Yamhill in the Yamhill-Carlton District located in the same hillside area as Shea Vineyard. In 1999, they planted a 7-acre estate vineyard primarily to Pinot Noir with a small amount of Pinot Gris. Pinot Noir clones 113, 114, 115 and 777 were established on Willakenzie soil at about 600 feet elevation.
Chris gained experience in winemaking at Archery Summit Winery. In 2001, Chris and Hilary moved to the Yamhill property and took over management of the property when their parents retired to Wickenburg, Arizona. They launched their winery, Roots, using a term derived from the French word racine which means “roots.”
2002 was the first vintage produced a whopping 72 cases of Pinot Noir under the Roots label. In 2003 a reserve bottling, Racine, was introduced and in 2004, a third label, Klee, was added, which pays homage to Bauhaus artist-in-residence Paul Klee. By 2006, the estate vineyard was in full production and grapes were bought (Cherry Grove Vineyard, Apolloni Vineyard, Leroy Vineyard and 49 Rows Vineyard) to produce a total of 2,000 cases under the three labels. Chris also sources grapes for non-Pinot Noir wines from the Walla Walla and Columbia Valley regions of Washington. Production in 2012 reached 4,000 cases.
Chris Berg’s idea is to make affordable wines and he has accomplished that with his five 2007 Pinot Noirs priced at $25 and the 2006 Racine at $50 (but available as low as $35). Beyond the prices though, Chris’s wines are impressive and deliver plenty of pleasure. The wines are produced in small quantities and often sell out quickly through the winery mailing list and some retail distribution.
A tasting room opened in March 2015 at 19320 NE Woodland Loop in Yamhill. Hours are Thursday-Sunday 12:00 to 4:00.
Articles About Roots Wine Company
2012 Oregon Pinot Noir All-Americans Second Team (9.17 12/26/2012)
2012 Oregon Value Priced Pinot Noirs Honorable Mention (9.17 12/26/2012)
2014 California & Oregon Value Priced Chardonnay All-Americans (10.2 12/22/2014)
More Juicy 2010 Oregon Pinot Incoming (9.15 11/24/2012)
Roots Winery: Solid and Reasonable Pinots (7.22 8/5/2009)
Sips of Recently Tasted Oregon Pinot Noir & More (9.42 5/25/2014)
Small Sips of Recently Tasted Premium Oregon Pinot Noir (10.16 9/3/2015)
Reviewed Wines
2013 Roots Deux Vert Vineyard Willamette Valley Melon de Bourgogne
12.8% alc., $22. Chris Berg crafts this wine from a wellknown
vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton district.
·
Very light yellow color
and clear in the glass. Pleasingly aromatic with scents of baked peach
and banana peel. Soft in the mouth and lightly flavored, featuring
notes of lemon curd, golden apple and peach. Picks up power on the
refreshing finish that is brightened by good acidity. A delicate wine that
is uniquely Oregon in the USA.
Score: 89.
Reviewed July 6, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Fairsing Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Chardonnay
13.3% alc., $35.
·
Moderately light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Aromas of lemon cream, brown butter and
roasted nuts. Slightly creamy and very smooth on the palate, with a core of lemon and golden apple
flavors accented with toasty, nutty oak.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 6, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Cancilla Vineyard Willamette Valley PInot Noir
14.0% alc., $40.
·
Moderate reddish purple color
in the glass. Beguiling shy scents of black cherry, blackberry, black currant and plum. The dark cherry and
berry fruits fill the mouth with overreaching intensity and finish with flashy aplomb. The substantial tannins are
balanced by the concentrated fruit load. A vein of spice runs through for accent.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 6, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Fairsing Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., $40.
·
Moderately
dark reddish purple color in the glass. Elevating aromas of dark red and black berry mash with a hint of oak
charm. Needs time in the glass to flesh out, becoming livelier, and revealing a good mid palate attack of black
cherry, dark berry and cassis flavors that are complimented by spice and anise-laced oak. Soft and seductive
in the mouth with balanced tannins and a bright finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 6, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Roots Estate Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $40.
·
Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. A cherry bombast with an explosion of fresh, fully ripened cherry
goodness highlighting the nose and palate. Some elegance and modest tannins that keep the fruit in line.
Assertive and showy, yet caressing in the mouth, with an intensely cherry-driven finish. You begged for more
cherry and here it is.
Score: 93.
Reviewed July 6, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Saffron Fields Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $40.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A raft of
blackberry, black raspberry and black cherry fruit fuels a very pleasurable nose
and palate. Mid to full-bodied, with an attention-getting grainy mouth feel, and
plenty of finishing goodness. Plenty of harmony and pleasure at work here.
Score: 92.
Reviewed July 6, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Saffron Fields Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., 72 cases,
$40. Pommard clone. Aged 18 months in new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately dark reddish purple color in the
glass. Black plum and blackberry aromas are overlaid with notes of toast and coffee grounds. Soft and smooth
in the mouth, with flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, spice, dark chocolate, and Hoison sauce with a floral bent
in the background. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the nose
offered more purple fruits, less oak and a floral bouquet perfume, with the palate remaining unchanged.
Score: 88.
Reviewed September 3, 2015
ARTICLE »
2010 Roots “The Dude” Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., 50 cases, $35. Sourced from
Saikkonen Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge.
·
Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Attractive scent of fresh cherries
and baking spice. Light, juicy and elegant, but a bit shallow and flat with modest flavors of cherries and
raspberries backed by soft tannins. May just be tight, but it doesn’t wake up my palate. Decent.
Reviewed November 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Estate Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 125 cases,
$35.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. The aromas of black cherries and
sandalwood leap from the glass. Very tasty with a moderately rich core of dark red and purple berry
preserves finishing long with a good shaft of acidity and notes of cranberries and pomegranates. A
generous wine that is very user-friendly. Very good.
Reviewed November 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Fairsing Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 46 cases, $35.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Bright aromas of black plum sauce, blackberries, cola and
oak. Earthy and smoky with a firm backbone of rugged tannins, featuring dark berry and plum flavors. Good.
Reviewed November 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Johnson Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 45
cases, $35.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. Dark red cherries and berries are
featured in this wine that has a savory bent as well with hints of spice, briar, herbs and dried flowers.
Delicate with supple tannins. Charming and easy to drink. Good (+).
Reviewed November 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Saffron Fields Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 74 cases, $35.
·
Evocative perfume of black cherry pie glaze with hints of oak
and slate. Delicious, deeply flavored essence of perfectly ripe
dark cherries nicely spiced with a complimentary note of oakdriven
mocha. Striking flavor on entry, expanding in waves on
the palate, and finishing with a taunting, memorable intensity. Still great two
days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle when I finished the
bottle with dinner. Exceptional.
Reviewed November 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2007 Roots Crosshairs Cuvée Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 275 cases,
$25. Sourced from Leroy Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA
and Cherry Grove Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA.
·
Moderately light garnet color. The aromas explode in the glass over
time revealing black cherries, baking spices, herbs and forest floor.
Light in weight and elegant in style with an earthy undertone. Softly
textured with gossamer tannins and a good acid spine. A feminine styled wine
with enough cleavage to please.
Reviewed August 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2007 Roots Estate Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.6% alc.,
175 cases, $25.
·
Pleasing scents of, strawberries, tutti-fruity and spice.
Substantial red cherry and red berry core with an underpinning of
earthiness, spice and Dr. Pepper. Minimum dusty tannins make the
wine very approachable now. Seems like a Yamhill-Carlton wine
masquerading as a Dundee Hills wine. This wine really brings it for
the price of a Jackson and is recommended.
Reviewed August 5, 2009
ARTICLE »
2013 Roots Deux Vert Vineyard Willamette Valley Melon de Bourgogne
12.8% alc., $22. Chris Berg crafts this wine from a wellknown vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton district. · Very light yellow color and clear in the glass. Pleasingly aromatic with scents of baked peach and banana peel. Soft in the mouth and lightly flavored, featuring notes of lemon curd, golden apple and peach. Picks up power on the refreshing finish that is brightened by good acidity. A delicate wine that is uniquely Oregon in the USA. Score: 89. Reviewed July 6, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Fairsing Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Chardonnay
13.3% alc., $35. · Moderately light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Aromas of lemon cream, brown butter and roasted nuts. Slightly creamy and very smooth on the palate, with a core of lemon and golden apple flavors accented with toasty, nutty oak. Score: 90. Reviewed July 6, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Cancilla Vineyard Willamette Valley PInot Noir
14.0% alc., $40. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. Beguiling shy scents of black cherry, blackberry, black currant and plum. The dark cherry and berry fruits fill the mouth with overreaching intensity and finish with flashy aplomb. The substantial tannins are balanced by the concentrated fruit load. A vein of spice runs through for accent. Score: 90. Reviewed July 6, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Fairsing Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., $40. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Elevating aromas of dark red and black berry mash with a hint of oak charm. Needs time in the glass to flesh out, becoming livelier, and revealing a good mid palate attack of black cherry, dark berry and cassis flavors that are complimented by spice and anise-laced oak. Soft and seductive in the mouth with balanced tannins and a bright finish. Score: 90. Reviewed July 6, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Roots Estate Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $40. · Moderate reddish purple color in the glass. A cherry bombast with an explosion of fresh, fully ripened cherry goodness highlighting the nose and palate. Some elegance and modest tannins that keep the fruit in line. Assertive and showy, yet caressing in the mouth, with an intensely cherry-driven finish. You begged for more cherry and here it is. Score: 93. Reviewed July 6, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Saffron Fields Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., $40. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. A raft of blackberry, black raspberry and black cherry fruit fuels a very pleasurable nose and palate. Mid to full-bodied, with an attention-getting grainy mouth feel, and plenty of finishing goodness. Plenty of harmony and pleasure at work here. Score: 92. Reviewed July 6, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 Roots Saffron Fields Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
14.0% alc., 72 cases, $40. Pommard clone. Aged 18 months in new French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddish purple color in the glass. Black plum and blackberry aromas are overlaid with notes of toast and coffee grounds. Soft and smooth in the mouth, with flavors of boysenberry, blackberry, spice, dark chocolate, and Hoison sauce with a floral bent in the background. When tasted the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, the nose offered more purple fruits, less oak and a floral bouquet perfume, with the palate remaining unchanged. Score: 88. Reviewed September 3, 2015 ARTICLE »
2010 Roots “The Dude” Vineyard Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.2% alc., 50 cases, $35. Sourced from Saikkonen Vineyard in Ribbon Ridge. · Light reddish-purple color in the glass. Attractive scent of fresh cherries and baking spice. Light, juicy and elegant, but a bit shallow and flat with modest flavors of cherries and raspberries backed by soft tannins. May just be tight, but it doesn’t wake up my palate. Decent. Reviewed November 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Estate Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 125 cases, $35. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. The aromas of black cherries and sandalwood leap from the glass. Very tasty with a moderately rich core of dark red and purple berry preserves finishing long with a good shaft of acidity and notes of cranberries and pomegranates. A generous wine that is very user-friendly. Very good. Reviewed November 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Fairsing Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.4% alc., 46 cases, $35. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. Bright aromas of black plum sauce, blackberries, cola and oak. Earthy and smoky with a firm backbone of rugged tannins, featuring dark berry and plum flavors. Good. Reviewed November 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Johnson Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.0% alc., 45 cases, $35. · Moderately light reddish-purple hue in the glass. Dark red cherries and berries are featured in this wine that has a savory bent as well with hints of spice, briar, herbs and dried flowers. Delicate with supple tannins. Charming and easy to drink. Good (+). Reviewed November 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Roots Saffron Fields Vineyard Yamhill-Carlton Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 74 cases, $35. · Evocative perfume of black cherry pie glaze with hints of oak and slate. Delicious, deeply flavored essence of perfectly ripe dark cherries nicely spiced with a complimentary note of oakdriven mocha. Striking flavor on entry, expanding in waves on the palate, and finishing with a taunting, memorable intensity. Still great two days later from a previously opened and re-corked bottle when I finished the bottle with dinner. Exceptional. Reviewed November 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2007 Roots Crosshairs Cuvée Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 275 cases, $25. Sourced from Leroy Vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains AVA and Cherry Grove Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton District AVA. · Moderately light garnet color. The aromas explode in the glass over time revealing black cherries, baking spices, herbs and forest floor. Light in weight and elegant in style with an earthy undertone. Softly textured with gossamer tannins and a good acid spine. A feminine styled wine with enough cleavage to please. Reviewed August 5, 2009 ARTICLE »
2007 Roots Estate Yamhill-Carlton District Pinot Noir
13.6% alc., 175 cases, $25. · Pleasing scents of, strawberries, tutti-fruity and spice. Substantial red cherry and red berry core with an underpinning of earthiness, spice and Dr. Pepper. Minimum dusty tannins make the wine very approachable now. Seems like a Yamhill-Carlton wine masquerading as a Dundee Hills wine. This wine really brings it for the price of a Jackson and is recommended. Reviewed August 5, 2009 ARTICLE »