Finally an apportunity to try an Owen Roe wine. Elliott's on Linden in Pinehurst was having a "French Bistro" evening (one in a series of foreign-themed dinners this winter) and the place was packed! I was there with a friend from church whose husband was staying home due to a bad cold. Service was slower than usual due to the busy evening but the food was good. Choice of three or four appetizers, three salads, five entrees and four desserts for $36 per person. I had mussels as an appetizer and mache with delicate asparagus for my salad. Then entrecote (beef) with chef's butter and pomme frites and grilled tomato and a dessert of creme caramel. With the mussels and salad I enjoyed a Longboat Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand. With the steak and pommes frites I had a glass of the 2007 OWEN ROE EX UMBRIS SYRAH, YAKIMA VALLEY, WA. This retails for low $20's. The 2008 is the current release at the winery. I looked up some notes people had posted on Cellar Track for the 2007 and the common descriptors are blackberry, plum, smoky, pepper, spice and some mention of red fruits. I agreed with the person who said bright fruits in the forefront. This was almost jammy but more charming than that implies. I thought more red and black berry notes than plum. Not as oak-laden or tannic as some young Washington state syrahs.
Ex Umbris means "out of the shadow." Originally it was made with some grapes from a vineyard affected by forest fire. Later, the winemaker tried to achieve the smoky flavor that people enjoyed in the forest fire vintage. Grapes are sourced from several vineyards.
I e-mailed the manager of the adjoining wine shop to see if they are selling this syrah or any Owen Roe Pinot Noirs. He said they are currently out-0f-stock but will be getting in more syrah and he is inquiring about the Pinots. Good news!
If you can locate this Syrah, it is good QPR in my estimation.
