Sinister Hand
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2030
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused stews
✨ Technical Specifications
The name 'Sinister Hand' is steeped in Irish folklore, commemorating a historic rowing race for the land of Ulster. According to legend, an O'Neill ancestor, realizing his boat was falling behind, cut off his own left hand (the 'sinister' hand) and threw it onto the shore to claim the territory. This dramatic tale is immortalized on the wine's label. Crafted as a tribute to the classic blends of the Southern Rhône, this wine is sourced from premier vineyards in Washington's Columbia and Yakima Valleys. The region's warm days, cool nights, and well-drained soils yield fruit with exceptional balance and expressive character. Winemaker David O'Reilly employs minimal intervention, fermenting the grapes in small batches and aging them in neutral French oak to preserve the vibrant fruit profile, resulting in a wine that is both structurally complex and approachable.
🍾 About the Producer
Founded in 1999 by winemaker David O'Reilly and Jerry McNally, Owen Roe was established with a mission to craft world-class, terroir-driven wines from the premier vineyard sites of the Pacific Northwest. Named in honor of the 17th-century Irish patriot Owen Roe O'Neill, the winery operates estate facilities and sources fruit spanning both Washington's Columbia and Yakima Valleys and Oregon's Willamette Valley. Owen Roe champions a low-intervention winemaking philosophy, utilizing gentle handling and thoughtful oak integration to articulate the distinctive character of esteemed vineyards such as DuBrul, Red Willow, and Union Gap. The producer is widely celebrated for its nuanced single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Cabernet Franc, alongside popular and characterful blends like Sinister Hand, Ex Umbris, and Abbot's Table.
🍇 Grape Varieties
Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsaut