Owen Roe "Lady Rosa" Syrah 08

Winery: Owen Roe

Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah 08 is a brand new release that follows on the heels of its Wine Spectator 94-point, Highly Recommended 2007 predecessor. We love the purity and power of the Lady Rosa.

"The fruit for the Lady Rosa Syrah is from a six mile area situated high in the cool western Yakima Valley. Two vineyards comprise this wine; Hugh and Kathy Shiels' DuBrul Vineyard, and Outlook Vineyard farmed by Roger Bates. Their small crops yielded ethereal aromas and wonderfully rich fruit flavors with fragrant violets and natural balanced acidity. This wine will mature beautifully over the next ten years." - the winery

Previous Vintage Tasting Notes

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah 07 -

Wine Spectator 94 points: "Polished, refined and beautifully focused to show its plum, clove, nutmeg and cream flavors against superfine tannins. The flavors persist elegantly on the long, expressive finish. Drink now through 2015." - HS

Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah 07 has totally lush scents of candied violets, sweet blackberries, and bacon fat waft from the glass. Super juicy yet sweet blackberries mingle with hints of clove, anise, and ginseng on the complex finish. The Lady Rosa 07 marries fantastic density of fruit with brightness from the acidity. Remarkable balance for such a big wine--expect it to age gracefully.

The 2007 Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah is made from Mike and Karen Sauer's Red Willow Vineyard (67%) and the rest from Outlook Vineyard, farmed by Roger Bates. These small hillside blocks are situated high in the cool western Yakima Valley and yields were kept low to maximize flavor and balance.

Every year, this is the Owen Roe Syrah you want to spend time with, as you witness the layers of flavor unfold in the glass. Cellaring this wine will produce even more enjoyment. This is one of the finest Washington Syrahs produced.

2006 vintage Wine Spectator 93 points "A ripe, heady style, with a jolt of acidity to keep the rich plum, dried blueberry and mocha flavors in check, giving them the afterburners they need to shoot through the long, vivid finish. Drink now through 2016. - H.S."

MORE INFORMATION

Previous Vintage tasting notes

Owen Roe Lady Rosa Syrah 06 - Wine Spectator 93 points: "A ripe, heady style, with a jolt of acidity to keep the rich plum, dried blueberry and mocha flavors in check, giving them the afterburners they need to shoot through the long, vivid finish. Drink now through 2016. - H.S." Tasting Notes 2005 Vintage

Wine Spectator 93 points.

The grapes for the Lady Rosa Syrah are from DuBrul Vineyard and from a vineyard located 4 miles to the west, the Outlook Vineyard. Each Syrah block in the vineyards has wide swatches of small stones that bring out the best in this variety. This relatively small area has proven to yield ethereal Syrah grapes that have wonderfully rich fruit flavors with scent and hints on the palate of fragrant violets.

This wine is named for a great lady, the wife of Owen Roe O'Neill. Rose O'Neill was only one of a small number of women who were part of the Flight of the Earls. This episode in Irish history marked the regrouping of the leaders of Irish independence in mainland Europe in 1607. Eventually, Owen Roe O'Neill returned to rally the beleaguered Irish forces against injustice. Before doing so, he finished university at Salamanca in Spain and distinguished himself as an officer in the Spanish military.

Rose passed away on the European continent in 1660 where she fled again upon the poisoning of her husband. Her epitaph reads:

"Lady Rosa -widow of Don Eugenio O'Neill - The General of the Irish"

Tasting Notes for 2004 Vintage

Wine Spectator rating 91 points: "Smooth, with vibrant acidity to balance the ripe blueberry, toast and spice flavors that keep singing through the long, fine-grained finish. Best from 2008 through 2014.-H.S."

Amazingly fragrant, a huge yet multilayered Syrah from the low yielding, old vine Dubrul Vineyard, vineyards surrounding it, and Rosa Mystica Vineyard.

The word for this wine is "ethereal", according to David. The fragrance of violets is intense in both nose and mouth, with big black fruit flavors, exotic spices, black pepper and hints of sandalwood. Very limited, only four barrels made.

Sold out, wine information for reference only. THis wine is made with grapes from two vineyards located in what David O'Reilly describes as a "a magical area" in the Rattlesnake Hills in Northern Yakima Valley. Having been there recently for the first time, I can see why he calls it "magical".

The region is eerily wild, with vast expanses of dusty high desert suddenly broken by valleys, high cliffs breaking steeply to the fringe of green along the wide blue grey river. You drive for miles past mile long fields of apple trees, then veer into military test ranges, regimental formations of masive power poles marching into the distance, and occasional tiny pockets of buildings, including one that announces "you are now in the middle of nowhere" with great pride.

Owen Roe's Syrah is uniquely its own style. It has a burly, wild, gamey yes frankly sexy quality that I find irresitible.

The three vineyards are located in a magical area in the Rattlesnake Hills in Northern Yakima Valley. The combination of high elevation, intensive vineyard management, and a small crop yielded superbly balanced fruit. An ethereal Syrah, full of intense violet notes, that will reward with a few years of cool cellaring.