New vintages of two old favorites: Syncline and Owen Roe
From the moment I landed in Seattle, I knew my trip would be cut short due to the impending Snowzilla back home. That left only one choice for which wines I would try…old favorites. The 2014 Syncline, Subduction Red, Columbia Valley is a lovely, forward drinking blend full of youthful blue fruit flavors. The 2012 Owen Roe, Ex Umbris Syrah, Columbia Valley steps things up with fat accenting the deep blue and black fruit flavors. Fat works well with Syrah and all this wine needs is just a little more time to open up. These wines were purchased at Pete’s of East Lake.
2014 Syncline, Subduction Red, Columbia Valley
This wine is a blend of 46% Syrah, 27% Mourvedre, 14% Grenache, 8% Carignan, 3% Cinsault, and 2% Counoise. Alcohol 14.4%. There were plenty of young, berry fruit flavors which settled in on rounded blueberries. The wine showed slight grip, good acidity, and youthful age. The blue fruit lasts throughout, taking on some baking spiced wood notes and a little heat in the end. Fun stuff. **(*) 2016-2020.
2012 Owen Roe, Ex Umbris Syrah, Columbia Valley
This wine is 100% Syrah. Alcohol 14.1%. The hints of fat worked with the deep black and blue fruit. The wine showed weight and density before black minerals, and some spirit came out in the finish. There is no need to mature this wine for different flavors, rather it needs just a bit of time so that it can open up. In that time the oak influences should absorb. Attractive with its slightly rough manner. *** 2017-2019.
