Rocks Of Bawn Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2029
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
grilled lamb chops, roasted venison, portobello mushrooms
✨ Technical Specifications
Named after the classic Irish folk ballad depicting a plowman's struggle against unforgiving, stony ground, 'Rocks of Bawn' pays homage to both the Irish heritage of founder David O'Reilly and the challenging, rocky terroirs of the Pacific Northwest. While Owen Roe is highly celebrated for its Cabernet Sauvignon under this label, their mastery of the Syrah grape shines through in their Northern Rhône-inspired offerings. Sourced from select vineyards in the region, this wine captures the essence of rugged soils, utilizing small-batch fermentation and careful French oak aging to deliver a profile rich in dark fruit, savory herbs, and signature cracked black pepper. It represents a harmonious marriage of Old World storytelling and bold, expressive New World viticulture.
🍾 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
Syrah