Owen Roe 2022 Sinister Hand Rhône-Style Red Blend Columbia Valley 750ml

Owen Roe O'Neill was a genuine 17th-century Irish patriot, and his name and story anchor everything Owen Roe winery does — founder David O'Reilly, one of twelve children who spent his early years in Belfast before his family relocated to British Columbia, built the winery in 1999 with his wife Angelica after years working cool-climate Pinot Noir in California and, later, Oregon's Willamette Valley alongside Peter Rosback. Every Owen Roe wine label carries a piece of Irish lore or family history, and Sinister Hand is no exception — a name drawn directly from Irish heraldic tradition, associated with the O'Neill clan's own coat of arms.

Sinister Hand is Owen Roe's Rhône-style red blend, sourced from vineyards across Washington's Columbia Valley and produced sustainably, with no herbicides or pesticides used at any stage. The wine carries LIVE certification — Low Input Viticulture and Enology, a program formed in 1997 by a dedicated group of visionary Willamette Valley winegrowers, now spanning vineyards across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, awarded specifically for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, embracing regenerative farming practices, and protecting local wetlands, streams, and rivers through restorative growing methods.

Owen Roe's own official notes for the 2022 vintage describe a wine with genuinely "spicy, dark, and savory characteristics," an "exuberant nose" carrying "raspberry aromas with a hint of vanilla," while "the lively palate has a soft juicy texture and a well-balanced acidity." Chewy tannins and black cherry round things out, closing with "a hint of toasty French oak" through "the vibrant finish." For context on the broader Sinister Hand style, the 2019 vintage of this exact wine earned strong marks from major critics — 92 points from James Suckling and 91 from Wine Enthusiast, the latter finding "aromas of raspberry, thistle, cranberry, blueberry, herbs and coffee," with "plump, palate-coating flavors" and "a lovely texture and purity to this wine, while it remains light on its feet." This is a genuinely food-friendly, spice-driven red blend from a winery whose entire identity is built around storytelling and place.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Owen Roe winery was founded in 1999 by David O'Reilly and his wife Angelica, based in Wapato, in Washington's Yakima Valley. The winery takes its name and label imagery from Owen Roe O'Neill, a 17th-century Irish patriot, reflecting O'Reilly's own Irish heritage and deep commitment to storytelling through wine. Owen Roe partners with more than a dozen vineyards across the Willamette and Yakima Valleys, emphasizing minimal intervention winemaking and terroir-driven expression, and also operates two additional brands, Growers Guild and Corvidae Wine Co.

Sinister Hand is Owen Roe's Rhône-style red blend, sourced from vineyards across Washington's Columbia Valley. The wine is farmed sustainably, without herbicides or pesticides, and carries LIVE certification (Low Input Viticulture and Enology), a program dedicated to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, embracing regenerative farming, and protecting local wetlands, streams, and rivers, with a broader commitment to biodiversity, worker rights, soil health, and pesticide reduction.

Critics Reviews

No numerical critic score is confirmed for the 2022 vintage specifically at this time. For adjacent-vintage context, the 2019 vintage of Sinister Hand received the following:

James Suckling — 92 Points (2019 vintage)

Sean P. Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast — 91 Points (2019 vintage):
"The aromas fascinate in notes of raspberry, thistle, cranberry, blueberry, herbs and coffee. Plump, palate-coating flavors follow. There's a lovely texture and purity to this wine, while it remains light on its feet. Raspberry and blueberry notes linger on the finish."

Owen Roe (official 2022 tasting notes):
"The 2022 Sinister Hand displays spicy, dark, and savory characteristics. The exuberant nose has raspberry aromas with a hint of vanilla, while the lively palate has a soft juicy texture and a well-balanced acidity. Chewy tannins, black cherry, and a hint of toasty French oak round out the vibrant finish."

Tasting Profile

Nose
Exuberant and spicy, with raspberry aromas leading, joined by a hint of vanilla. Dark, savory character runs throughout, reflecting the wine's Rhône-style blend composition.

Palate
Lively and juicy, with a soft texture and well-balanced acidity. Black cherry and chewy tannins build genuine structure, savory and spice-driven rather than simply fruit-forward.

Finish
Vibrant, closing with a hint of toasty French oak — a genuinely food-friendly, spice-forward finish typical of the Sinister Hand house style.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Grilled pork shoulder steak
• Roasted or grilled red meat
• Spiced or savory dishes
• Aged hard cheeses