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Winery:
Owen Roe

$23.95 Regular

$21.55
in any 12 bottle order or Build a Case

Qty.

Review:

Sinister Hand is a blend of dark, hearty red grapes traditionally used in wine from France's Rhone region. The Sinister Hand blend contains Washington State fruit: 63% Grenache, 19% Syrah, 16% Mourvedre, and 2% Cinsault.

2010 Vintage Tasting Notes

A small crop of intensely flavored fruit in 2010 means fewer bottles than usual of an especially "big" Sinister Hand. Dark, juicy, jammy and spicy. Almost like a liquor in depth and richness. Syrah adds pepper, Grenache adds raspberry jam. Big, meaty, dark.

The story behind the name of the wine:
Long ago, during the 11th century, the O’Neills and O’Reillys were two revolutionary Irish families. They formed a rowing competition to reserve rights to some highly regarded land. The two teams agreed that the first to cross the lake and touch the land would become ruler of the land. O’Neill’s boat was falling behind so a member of the crew grabbed his own sword, cut off his hand and threw it ashore, winning the title to rule the land. This land still remains in the family.

A dark story needs a dark wine, which is why the winery created this blend; typical of a traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The first sip of this wine surprises the palate with soft, supple flavors of raspberry jam and currant. The mid-palate opens up to a complex layering of minty eucalyptus, black pepper and leather, and finishes with a structured backbone of earth and spice. - David

2009 Vintage Tasting Notes

The 2009 Sinister Hand has a clear, garnet color bearing beautiful wild strawberry, tayberry, and black pepper with red and black currant notes. Precise on the palate with satisfying acid that provides a framework for the ripe black fruit and baked brown earth finish.

The Grenache lends festive red fruit while the Syrah and Mouvedre add savory notes: stewed dark fruits, sweet herb and complex earthiness. Yumm.

2008 Vintage Tasting Notes

Owen Roe's Sinister Hand is an exhuberant, lush, lively, juicy blend of Rhone varietals. It is traditionally a blend of Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvedre from several Yakima area vineyards.

"Our primary source for this wine is Dr. Steve Elerding’s vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills, where the proximity of the Columbia River is a vital part of the success of these traditional Rhone varietals. This wine is very dark with fruit flavors, pepper and an excellent texture. The blend is 62% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 3% Mourvedre." - the winery

2007 Vintage Tasting Notes

Owen Roe's Sinister Hand 2007 is rich and full-bodied. Dark purple in color, with a nose of sweet spice box and white pepper, the wine coats the palate with fresh fruit - sweet red and black cherries, black currant, and blackberries. Smooth and integrated tannins in the finish contain abundant dried cherry, white pepper, cassis, and just a hint of brine and minerals.

The Sinister Hand 2007 combines its usual intense, fleshy, generous qualities with the fresh fruit flavors and balance of the vintage. For 2007, the blend is 62% Grenache, 21% Syrah, and 16% Mourvedre from several Yakima, Washington area vineyards.

Highly recommended - ready to drink, crowd pleasing, generously plump and fleshy yet appropriate to pair with foods such as grilled meat, sausage, and cassoulet.