Grape plants are vines and they are tenacious. Most all vinefera is now on “rootstock” chosen for its ability to resist phyloxerra as well as water intake characteristics. This is a safe way to plant a vineyard. The plants within this Own Roots bottling are cuttings taken from the neighboring vineyard known as Resonance Vineyard. You would cut off the fruiting cane in the winter and stick it in the ground in the early spring. Most all with take hold and these obvious did.

Anecdotally, I find that vines growing with their own roots not only ripen later, but also do not seem to take in more water when there is a late in season rain event. I have yet to see these berries split during large downpours such as we had in 2013. Perhaps that is why my wines from Yates Conwill did so well with the critics that year…

Smooth entry with a jump in flavor right away with black over ripe plums, juniper berries, and a nice juiciness right after your first sip. Makes you salivate.

22 months on oak on both the Pinot and the Chardonnay. This vineyard needed time in barrel to calm down as it was an aggressive year, very fruit forward, I believe that letting is sit and evolved and expirate through the oak makes for a more subtly more interesting wine.

Interesting underlying rock formations give this salty saline plum with savory aspects. The closest I can come to this would be Umeboshi which you can buy at Asian markets. Seriouslly, taste one of these then drink the Yates Conwill Pinot and you will understand.