Owen Roe & Russell's Winemaker Dinner

David O'Reilly, Winemaker introduced each wine with a short description of the history of that wine within Owen Roe's list - providing some background on the vineyards and their owners (all wines are from purchased grapes from long-term contracts with growers). David also described the vintage represented and the effects of the vintage on the particular wines.

Pale gold. Pears and lychee in the nose. Medium weight. Entry of crunch Bosc pear fruit with some streaks minerality evident in the finish. Nutty tones. Very crisp with high acidity. Quite lean at this point. Finishes medium. This is a wine that will age well 8-12 years? Paired with Roast Beet Salad with Arugula and Champagne Vinaigrette. 88 now (90+ in 5 years)

Dark red purple. Expansive typical Cab Franc nose, rose and herbs. Weighty entry with surprisingly delicate fruit nuances. Pie cherry. Earthy with herbal and tea leaf tones. Nice acidity; fine tannins. Don't know how long this was open but surprisingly accessible with some swirling. Like the balance. Finishes medium. 90