Owen Roe Ex Umbris Syrah 09
Wine Spectator TOP 100 #25! 93 points
Ex Umbris Syrah is named for the personal motto of Cardinal John Henry Newman "Ex umbris et imaginibus in veritatem" (From shadows and symbols goes the truth). Winemaker David O'Reilly was inspired by the fire-blackened land right next to the vineyard and the stark contrast between it and the verdant grapevines full of fruit.
Latin for "out of the shadows" this wine was originally crafted to express the smoky notes imparted to the Syrah grapes by a raging wildfire. One of the characteristics of this noble grape is its inherent smokiness, a flavor that comes through even without Mother Nature's assistance.
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If you are looking for an Owen Roe red wine of a similar style as the Ex Umbris, you'd enjoy their Sinister Hand. It's a Syrah blend that's dark, juicy and smooth. It has a bloody history and a scary label.
Owen Roe's best value red. I know, the Abbot's Table is popular but to me, the Ex Umbris really shines. It has tons of delicious, smoky Syrah character and is so easy to drink. - Marcus
2009 Wine Spectator 93 points - Supple and round, this red is layered with plum, currant, sassafras, cream and spice flavors that keep sailing through the long, vivid finish. This has style and grace to go with its undeniable power. Drink now through 2018. - H.S.
Stone and mineral flavors come from vineyards along the Columbia River in The Dalles. Big, juicy cherries and smoke flavors from Yakima fruit fill out the blend. The smokiness that has always characterized this wine comes from Lewis Vineyard, where flavors from the forest fire a decade ago continue to show up in the grapes.
The new vintage of Ex Umbris reminds us of the complexity of the '07, but with robustness of the 2008! Amazing, pervasive scents of Bing cherry pie, bacon wrapped dates, green peppercorns and molasses. Rich, warm flavors of late summer strawberries, dark plum and dates expand on the palate and finish with sarsaparilla and black licorice. Serve alongside herb roasted pork, game dishes and savory stuffing. Drink now through 2016. - David
VINEYARDS/AVA
Columbia Valley AVA
Erickson Road Vineyard
Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Six Prong Vineyard
Lewis Vineyard
Yakima Valley AVA
Outlook Vineyard
Slide Mountain Vineyard
Union Gap Vineyard
2008 Vintage Tasting Notes
Ex Umbris Syrah 08 - has rad aromas of smoke, flint, meat and heaps of black fruit. A nice vein of red berry weaves through the black fruit heart, with accents of lavender, hoisin, and cocoa on the finish. - Marcus
Fantastic reviews often lead to price increases. Not so with Owen Roe. Ex Umbris' price has stayed the same through raves, like when the 2005 was #69 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 in 2007 and last year's WS 92 for the 2007 vintage.
Avalon has sold every vintage of Ex Umbris Syrah and 2008 is the best yet. Now is your time to beat the critics to the new Ex Umbris Syrah. Stock up before the frenzy. The 2007 vintage received 92 points from Wine Spectator.
2007 Vintage Tasting Notes
Wine Spectator says: "Velvety, offering a plush mouthful of spicy cherry and red berry flavors, playing against plush tannins and hints of milk chocolate on the long, vivid finish. Syrah. Drink now through 2014." - H.S.
The 2007 Ex Umbris Syrah is the best Ex Umbris yet. Gobs of marionberries and black raspberries are interspersed with licorice, milk chocolate, and coffee. A superbly rich, supple texture helps carry lingering sweet fruit, violets, and white pepper through the finish. - Avalon
2006 Vintage Tasting Notes
Ex Umbris's 2006 vintage was the Wall Street Journal's Number One pick in their Dow Jones Washington Syrah Index. They described the 2006 Ex Umbris Syrah: "Delicious. Best value. Awesome, intense fruit, but an amazing amount of acidity and balance. Big, explosive, very American wine, with terrific structure and finesse."
Wall Street Journal continued: "Comparing a huge American wine to elegant first-growth Bordeaux is high and unusual praise indeed. It turned out that No. 1 was from Owen Roe, an Oregon-based winery that also makes excellent Pinot Noir ... David O'Reilly, the co-owner and winemaker at Owen Roe, says his wine is made from very low-yielding vineyards in the Columbia Valley with sparse, rocky soils. That explains why the wine has both density and acidity. Density and acidity -- that seems to us like a pretty apt description of many of these wines."
2005 Vintage Tasting Notes
Ex Umbris's 2005 vintage was Number 69 in Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2007.
Ex Umbris Syrah is named for the personal motto of Cardinal John Henry Newman "Ex umbris et imaginibus in veritatem" (From shadows and symbols goes the truth). David was inspired by the fire-blackened land right next to the vineyard and the stark contrast between it and the verdant grapevines full of fruit.
