Union Gap Vineyard The Pearl Block Cabernet Franc
⏳ Drinking Window
2024 - 2032
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roasted duck, grilled lamb chops, rosemary-infused portobello mushrooms
✨ Technical Specifications
Sourced from Owen Roe's estate Union Gap Vineyard, situated at the dramatic southern entrance of the Yakima Valley where the river carves through ancient basalt ridges, The Pearl Block Cabernet Franc is a testament to Washington's unique terroir. The vineyard's steep, south-facing slopes are littered with gravelly basalt cobblestones that absorb the daytime heat, while the gap itself draws in cooling evening winds. This extreme diurnal temperature swing allows the Cabernet Franc grapes to achieve optimal phenolic ripeness while preserving their vibrant natural acidity. Named after a prized parcel within the estate, this wine is crafted using small-batch fermentations and traditional French oak aging, resulting in a structured, complex red that beautifully balances savory herbal notes of sage and tobacco with deep, dark berry fruit.
🍾 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
Cabernet Franc