Owen Roe 2007 Abbot's Table

This Owen Roe wine from the Columbia Valley AVA (mostly in Washington and part of Northern Oregon) is truly a field blend - check out the mix: 22% Sangiovese, 20% Merlot, 20% Zinfandel, 15% Cabernet Franc, 7% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 3% Petite Sirah, 3% Cinsault, 3% Malbec, 1% Pinot Noir. Seems like everything is thrown in there, huh?

This light quencher will certainly have mass appeal. On the nose, I found fruity, earthy scents with a dark chocolate component. In the mouth, this wine, which clocked in at 14.6 percent alcohol tasted like strawberries, currants, and other red and black fruits that were difficult to distinguish.

From the winery's web site: "The year was marked with great heat during the summer that was abruptly ended by an unseasonably long and cool fall, leaving us with ripe wines with great acidity. The 2007 Yakima Valley [ed note - Yakima is within the Columbia Valley AVA] wines have big flavors that will cellar well. It has vibrant fruit aromas and delicious flavors, expressing the fruitiness and weight of Sangiovese and Zinfandel- it is such a rich, yet easy drinking wine that it can be paired with the broadest range of foods and also tastes great by itself."

I paid $19.99 for this wine at the Wine Mine in Oakland, pretty good price considering it's more typically priced between $20-$30 at other wine shops. Overall I liked this wine but didn't think it was anything spectacular. Owen Roe, and Abbot's Table has received a lot of praise (check out Good Wines Under $20 review of the 2004 bottle, here). It's certainly an easy drinker, but for $20, I want a little more from my wine.