Owen Roe Yakima Red 07
Owen Roe Yakima Red 07 - Scoop after scoop of heady red fruit shows in the nose, along with cedar and toasty oak. A seamless entry gushes with red raspberry and cherry, while black cherry and cassis bellow on the low end. Balance is such a simple word, but everything is in its place with the 2007. I had this for dinner with roast rack of lamb and a sour cherry reduction, mascarpone polenta and sauteed Italian sweet peppers. For our long-time fans of the Yakima Red, think of this as a combination of 2004 and 2005.
A week ago today, I was sitting on the deck overlooking Crater Lake's expansive, deep blue. It's hard to come back from a vacation like that, or any vacation, really. You know what made it better this time? Knowing I had a sample of Owen Roe's 2007 Yakima Red waiting for me.
You might remember the last time I got worked up over Yakima Red - it was the 2005 vintage and I almost drove off the road with enthusiasm while telling Jean how good it was. The 2007 Yakima Red is a return to the style I love. It's that perfect blend of killer aromas, rich fruit, balance and drinkability.
The Yak is back.
With our years of Northwest wine experience, it's hard to recall another wine that has so much universal appeal. The Yakima Red 07 is almost TOO drinkable after it breathes for a couple hours. If you plan to cellar some, you might need more than a case. - Marcus
"This wine is crafted to showcase the world-class Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes of the Yakima Valley. The fruit is from several small vineyards from the cooler western end of the region, where the long days of sunshine and moderate temperatures in the evening conspire to produce lush aromatic grapes with lovely acidity and low ph. The bright berry Merlot and fragrant notes of Cabernet Franc are wonderfully framed by the structure and acidity of the Cabernet Sauvignon, creating a beautiful mouth-filling and deeply aromatic wine." - the winery
24% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Franc, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker David O'Reilly is a strong believer in the exceptional winegrape growing conditions of the Yakima Valley of Washington State. While most of the buzz is about Walla Walla, David is quietly proving that Yakima canmake some of the NW's best wine.
Previous Vintage Tasting Notes
2006 Vintage Tasting Notes
A tiny fraction of 2006 Yakima Red was made, compared to the 2005. Big, ripe, and supple,the 2006 Yakima Red is still structured enough for cellaring. Get some now before it's gone!
The Merlot is from DuBrul Vineyard, while the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon are from Red Willow Vineyard in the cooler, western end of the Yakima Valley. The Yakima Valley Red Wine is designed to showcase that a world-class Merlot and Cabernet Franc based Bordeaux blend can be obtained from this remarkable growing area.
MORE INFORMATION
2005 Vintage Tasting Notes
Unforgettable. One
of the most intoxicating noses of any red wine
I've tried. Heady and luscious black
cherry gushes into your senses, complemented
by streaks of red berries and cherries, perfectly
integrated toast and Yakima earth, smoke,
nutmeg, distant roasted coffee, and it still
keeps unraveling. After airing, absolutely
velvety flavors of black cherries
are layered with dark raspberries and sweet
cherries. Sure, the tannins are there
but they’re woven perfectly into the
mouth-coating texture of the wine. The
finish reiterates all the wonderful
fruit you can’t wait ‘til
the next glass to get more of, mingling with
pink peppercorns, tiny hints of dried herbs,
cloves, cream and cocoa shavings. Previous (2004) Vintage received It will be a sad day
when this wine is sold out. W The 2005 Owen Roe Yakima
Red catches David O’Reilly at the very
top of his craft. - Marcus This is incredible
juice. 41.4% Cab, 37.9% Merlot,
20.7% Cabernet Franc --- Amy's
notes & food
pairings for the Yakima Red 05: 2004 Vintage Tasting Notes
The Owen Roe Yakima Red 2004, one of our favorite NW reds, now has a great Wine Spectator score--93 points! AND it's listed in the HIGHLY RECOMMENDED section of the magazine. We've said it's great for months and that's why we sent it to our Big Reds Wine Club. We still have some left, but that won't last long. Stock up for the long haul--the Yakima Red is built for it.
Owen Roe Yakima Red 04 Wine Spectator Review
93 points -- "Crisp and beautifully focused, with gorgeous currant and mineral-accented blueberry flavors that practically explode on the palate, lingering enticingly against zingy, refreshing acidity. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2008 through 2014." H.S.
David is a strong believer in the exceptional winegrape growing conditions of the Yakima Valley of Washington State. While most of the buzz is about Walla Walla, David is quietly proving that Yakima can grow some of the NW's best grapes.
David is passionate about the vineyard, focused with a laser-like precision on finding the right grapes to grow on the right site. He's brought national attention to Yakima's Dubrul and Rosa Mystic Vineyards already, with high scoring wines from both sites in the last issue of Wine Spectator.
We're predicting that by the time people figure out the western Yakima Valley, David will be lightyears ahead of most of them. He's establishing vineyards, working with owners to refine their crops to his standards, and is so sure of the future of the region, he's building a winery there.
The 2004 Yakima Red gives you an opportunity to try his take on the best that western Yakima has to offer. It's a blend of Cabernet Franc, Dubrul Vineyard Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from his new Slide Mountain Vineyard and the Rosa Vineyard's Mystica Block.
David says he's most excited about this wine, of all his 2004's, and the only reason it's still available is that, for some reason, Wine Spectator did not include a review of it in the recent issue that gave the Owen Roe Dubrul Cab 94 points. A 'sleeper", try it before the rating comes out and it instantly disappears.
2003 Vintage Tasting Notes
Wine Spectator rating 91 points for previous vintage.
Wine Spectator 93 Points and "Highly Recommended"
Decanting recommended for best experience.
A
March 2007 Avalon "Big Reds Club" Selection
Balanced fruit, acidity, and complexity. Finesse.
The smoky note on the nose and finish (as well
as a dusky note mixed with pink peppercorn
on the second day) would lend itself well to
pancetta wrapped squab served with cranberry
studded rice or pink peppercorn crusted and
seared ahi tuna with grilled fingerling potatoes
