Owen Roe Winery Rosa Mystica Cabernet Franc

The Wine

Rosa Mystica shows Cabernet Franc’s more contemplative side. In the world of Cabernet Franc styles, there is the Loire Valley style, known for refreshing crispness and notes of bell pepper/Basil and alcohol below 14%, and the Bordeaux/Napa style from warmer climates, where it wine becomes more like Cabernet Sauvignon (the love child of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc!)

On the nose, the wine opens with some notes of forest floor and earthy mushroom, quickly followed by crushed red berries, vanilla bean, and roasted red pepper. There’s a flicker of white pepper and cocoa nibs that lend a savory edge, while the palate delivers tart cherry, gravelly minerality, and a bright, mouthwatering acidity that keeps everything lifted and alive.

The tannins are present but deferential, grippy enough to frame the fruit without taking the spotlight away from it. The finish lis subtle and pleasantly complex. This is Cabernet Franc with soul, ready to drink now or age gracefully through 2034.

Parings: The classic pairing for this wine is goat’s milk cheese (fresh is nice, but don't ignore the aged versions either!), grilled lamb.

Alcohol: 14.1%

The Winery

Founded in 1999 by David and Angelica O’Reilly, Owen Roe is a love letter to the Pacific Northwest’s most expressive vineyards. With roots in Oregon’s Willamette Valley and Washington’s Yakima Valley, the winery is named after Owen Roe O’Neill, a 17th-century Irish patriot whose legacy of integrity and resistance mirrors the winery’s ethos: no compromise in the vineyard, no shortcuts in the cellar.

The O’Reillys began their journey in California, drawn to cool-climate Pinot Noir, but soon found their spiritual home in Oregon. Over the decades, they’ve cultivated relationships with growers across 12 vineyard sites, crafting wines that reflect the land’s unique terroir—from volcanic soils to high desert breezes.

This is a winery that doesn’t chase trends. It tells stories—through soil, fruit, and time.