Union Gap Vineyard Syrah
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2032
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted lamb chops, grilled ribeye steak, wild mushroom risotto
✨ Technical Specifications
The Union Gap Vineyard Syrah is a profound expression of Owen Roe's estate vineyard, situated at the narrowest point of the Yakima Valley where the river cuts through ancient basalt ridges. This unique geological formation creates a steep, south-facing amphitheater of gravelly, basalt-rich soils and river cobbles. The vines struggle in these well-drained soils, yielding small, concentrated berries. Winemaker David O'Reilly utilizes small-batch fermentation and careful French oak aging to craft a Syrah that echoes the classic profile of the Northern Rhône. It is celebrated for its complex aromatic profile of dark bramble fruits, cracked black pepper, smoked meats, and a distinct, stony minerality that reflects its rugged volcanic terroir.
🍾 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