Thursday, February 23, 2012

Owen Roe 2009 Abbot’s Table


We’ll save you the suspense and let you know right up front: We love this wine!

For a recent celebration I had selected a nice white followed by a killer Merlot blend from Ontario. I had the Owen Roe Abbot’s Table as our last wine – but hardly figured this would be the highlight of the evening.

David O'Reilly, Owen Roe founder and winemaker, once heard of the generosity offered in many monasteries and was told that upon visiting, anywhere in the world, monks would offer weary travelers a place to dine at their table. He tried this out during a European vacation and found himself seated at the Abbot's Table, drinking delicious wine and sharing stories of his travels over a home-cooked meal. When he returned home, he created a new wine in honor of the hospitality and warmth he experienced while visiting with the monks. He named this blend the Abbot's Table.

Abbot’s Table is a winemaker’s blend and so varies from year to year. The 2009 vintage was 25% Zinfandel, 20% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, Grenache 13% and 7% Blaufrankish with lesser amounts of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Merlot. All you really need to remember is that this wine is juicy and ready for your glass.

This Washington State wine has a velvety feel with cascading layers of red berries and black cherry. The tannins are round and supportive of the rich, harmonious palate. There’s a little bop of pepper at the end to give the finish a lift.

Abbot’s Table wowed our tasting team and earned the designation as a “go to” wine for special occasions. I picked this up for $22 online, so the price is quite a value. There’s always room at the Abbot’s Table, so join in!

Rating: 5 of 5
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