The Beaune Yard

Date Unknown

Owen Roe – Ex Umbris – Syrah – 2007 (Columbia Valley)

The winery says: “‘Ex Umbris’ is Latin for “out of the shadows”.  The Syrah for this wine comes from several sites.  Fruit from Bruce Morford’s Slide Mountain Vineyard and Mike Sauer’s Red Willow Vineyard, both located in western Yakima Valley, is balanced by the cooler, smoky Lewis Vineyard in The Dalles, and the unctuous fruitiness of Elerding vineyard located in Alderdale, WA.  The cooler temperatures of the 2007 fall helped to preserve great acidity of the fruit both from the Columbia Valley.  The current vintage exhibits all the fragrance texture and deep plum/gamey characteristics of great Syrah.  Drink Now to 2011”

I had this at Vino Volo in a wine flight  and was blown away.  On the wine flight was a Fidelitas and I am a big fan of these Washington wines (www.fidelitaswines.com) so I was expecting my favorite to be the Fidelitas.  First, you should never assume with wines, it will close your mind.  Second, I was blown away by the Owen Roe.  A very smooth drinking wine that opened up and just made the wine come alive.  I had a glass after the flight and it held up.  I then came back through the Seattle Airport on my return trip and was told that they are required to keep retail prices (no Airport screw job here) due to the fact that they are housed in a Port Authority site.  Great news for me so I bought a bottle.  When I got home the next night I opened the bottle to share with my wife and it held up just as well as in the store.  Great wine.  Definitely need to try it if it is not already on your list.

Remember that life is too short for bad wine or bad friends.

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