Randall Grahm is a legend of California winemaking, renowned for his trailblazing work with Rhône Varieties in the Central Coast. ‘The Language of Yes’ is his latest project, an attempt to capture the essence of Old World wines through the ‘uniqueness of the vineyards and the (mostly) sunny disposition of California’. ‘The Language of Yes’ or La Langue d’Oc, is the term that the medieval people of Southern France used to describe who they were by how they spoke. The aim is to craft wines preserving the old ways, revealing the utmost respect for the integrity of the sites form which they derive. The raising of the wine involves the lightest possible touch, allowing the natural exuberance of the vines, the grapes, the wine and the winemaker to joyously emerge, unmistakably pronouncing The Language of Yes.

The Syrah and Viognier grapes come from the single vineyard ‘Rancho Réal’, in the Santa Maria Valley which is one of the coolest sites where vines are successfully grown in California. Here, the vines enjoy a particularly long growing season, thus developing an impressive degree of complexity and articulation. For example, the formation of 'Rotundone', the molecule that imparts the peppery quality to wines, is favoured by cooler climates, lower light conditions and a long hang-time on the vine. The Guyottrained vines were planted in 2010 at an elevation of 200 to 290 metres, in sandy loam soils. The vines are certified sustainable.