Red Willow Vineyard Sangiovese
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Tomato-based pasta dishes, roasted duck, grilled lamb chops
✨ Technical Specifications
Hailing from the legendary Red Willow Vineyard in the far western edge of Washington's Yakima Valley, this Sangiovese is a testament to the pioneering spirit of grower Mike Sauer and winemaker David O'Reilly. Red Willow is renowned for its steep, south-facing slopes and ancient, well-drained soils, which provide an ideal microclimate for challenging Old World varieties. Owen Roe's expression of this classic Tuscan grape marries the bright, high-toned acidity and dusty, earthy tannins of traditional Sangiovese with the vibrant, concentrated red fruit character typical of Washington State terroir. Fermented in small batches and aged in neutral French oak to preserve its varietal purity, this wine captures a beautiful tension between savory herbal notes, sour cherry, and a distinct mineral backbone.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1999 by David and Angelica O'Reilly, Owen Roe is named in honor of the 17th-century Irish patriot Owen Roe O'Neill. Operating across the Pacific Northwest, the winery bridges Washington’s Yakima Valley and Oregon’s Willamette Valley, celebrating cool-climate microclimates, diverse volcanic and windblown loess soils, and dry, high-sunlight ripening conditions. Following a brief period under corporate ownership, the O'Reilly family repurchased the estate in 2024 to reassert their founding independent vision. The viticultural and cellar philosophy prioritizes rigorous low-yield vineyard management, hand harvesting, small-lot fermentations, and judicious use of French oak barrel aging to preserve varietal clarity and site-specific typicity. Sourcing from benchmark terroirs such as Red Willow and DuBrul, Owen Roe produces critically acclaimed single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Chardonnay alongside value-driven cuvées under their Sharecropper’s and Corvidae labels, delivering structured, cellar-worthy expressions marked by vibrant acidity and deep concentration.
🍇 Grapes
Sangiovese