While tasting the latest bold 2011 Ex Umbris Syrah release from Owen Roe this weekend, I was lucky enough to savor the last of my Owen Roe Cabernet Sauvignon, Dubrul Vineyard ’03 from Yakima Valley in Washington. I was always asked how these wines would age, and it’s reassuring to say…stunningly! David O’Reilly is now well-known as a master grower and winemaker, by collector’s of Washington wine, thanks to his decade of awards. David had a great run of Cabernet from the DuBrul site, and those wines just keep getting better with age.
Owen Roe made about 100 cases from this small vineyard high up on the north side of the Yakima Valleywhere extreme heat and cold stress the grapes and produce tiny amounts of intensely concentrated fruit. I loved this wine shortly after it’s 2006 release (with at least one hour of decanting at the time), and it has put on fabulous weight and texture, with another 7 years of storage.
With this added maturity, the wine unfolds its flavors in waves. As you sip, you are washed over by distinct flavor notes, and when they recede, in minutes a new wave will come in with a bold, but different flavor. The volume of these distinct flavors is stunning. The wine shows absolutely precise and powerful notes of wood spice/cedar box, fresh roasted coffee, black currant, blackberry, herb and dusty cocoa, with saddle leather and a forest floor note. It is an absolutely massive wine, dark and opaque, but it comes across as elegant and nimble thanks to the near perfect acid balance, keeping it lively. The finish is long and harmonious, beautifully balanced, and concentrated. And I love looking at Owen Roe’s beautiful labels- just gorgeous, and yes- it did get better!
About the Author
John Selman is an Associate Broker, with previous experience as a certified Luxury Agent at Coldwell Banker Global Luxury, and The Agency. John consults with clients, handling the purchase and sales of their homes, dives into the hunt for a great property with the goal of achieving positive equity at close whenever possible, enthusiastically showcases a home for sale to bring out its best features, and truly loves what he gets to do every day.
John moved to Engel & Voelkers to take advantage of their global reach in home and select lifestyle offerings, the experience and professionalism of their management and advisors, and E&V’s superlative marketing and support tools.
Having grown up around the world, he arrived in the Valley from Canada, 35 years ago, renovated central Phoenix properties during college, and is intimate with the best neighborhoods historically, and those now on the rise. John earned his MBA in marketing from Arizona State University, with an undergraduate focus on biology, finance and computer science, and continued to pursue advanced coursework as an executive.
As an e-marketing and sales executive, with stints with IBM and start-ups in San Francisco, Dallas, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Atlanta, New York, La Jolla and LA, his regular relocation home searches provided valuable experiences, both good and bad, and led to his real estate career.
John has practiced and taught the Consulting Sales process to the best sales people in business. A former #1 sales executive at IBM, and an instructor of executive education for IBM, he teaches, practices, and practically breathes the Consulting Sales Process.
John honed his luxury-specific marketing skills, re-positioning and invigorating his gourmet food and wine shop in downtown Malibu, initially as a side business. As a pioneer in email marketing and blogs, he delivered wine advice and sold rare wine across the country to America’s wealthiest collector's and some of the biggest names in entertainment and business.
Running his fine wine boutique, Malibu Village Wines, he consulted with auction houses, and worked with architects, cabinetmakers, contractors, and some of America’s best Realtors designing wine cellars for luxurious estates, and realized that Real Estate was what he wanted to concentrate on in his future.
Expanding with a bar and restaurant, he catered to the needs of some of the world's wealthiest business people and celebrities. Having created a shop that was a social hub for the wine community, built a wine clientele around the world, and co-founded the Wine Classic for ChildHelp charity, John decided it was time to move on from technology, food and wine, and focus on real estate- his other lifestyle passion.
He enthusiastically enjoys, and irreverently writes about homes, food and wine. He is passionate about all three, loves architecture, grapes, cooking, good renovation, old cars and motorcycles, his family, his Bulldog “Rugby”, and most (but not always all) of his friends.
In his rare free time, he coaches paddling sports on Tempe Town Lake, strums a guitar while singing offkey, visits his favorite old ski haunts and complains of aches and pains, avoids anyone carrying a rugby ball or organizing a "tour", travels up and down the coast seeking out great food & wine, looks for water to paddle SUPs or outriggers, and laughs at his dog.Social Share
