RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE SYRAH

 

The Force Majeure estate Syrah is cultivated in a combination of the 8 soil types that exist in our vineyard, with most of it being planted in very steep, very rocky locations, but some also planted in deeper, loamier soils. Fermentation takes place after cold soak in a combination of concrete and stainless steel vats, with some lots in the final blend seeing extended maceration and co-fermentation with Viognier also grown on our site. Élevage is carried out in a combination of new and used French oak barrels and puncheons for +/- 18 months, and the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. The estate Syrah typically exhibits a broad spectrum of black, blue and red fruits, dried herbs and jasmine, fennel, smoked meats and crushed rock along with very fine tannins, great length, balance and complexity.

VINTAGES

2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021

RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE PARVATA BLEND

 

Parvata means “mountain” in sanskrit, and is the name for our southern Rhône-inspired blend, grown mostly in the sandy, loamy soils of the lower section of our Red Mountain vineyard, which bring to the wine a good degree of finesse and high-toned aromatic notes, white pepper, dried herbs and grapefruit peel. Fermented after cold soak in concrete vats, it receives a gentle extraction before being barreled down to spend approximately 18 months in a small percentage of new French oak, utilizing both large format puncheons and barrels. The blend will change each year and will eventually be driven by Grenache as more of our plantings come into production. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

VINTAGES

2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 20172018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021

WALLA WALLA ESTATE SYRAH

 

“The scintillating Estate Syrah from Force Majeure comes from The Rocks District and is another wonderful, and nearly perfect, Syrah from the area. Evoking notes of blue plums, wild blueberries, lavender, roasted game, white grapefruit zest, and cedary herbs, it is a deep and luxuriant Syrah that gifts a velvety finish and perfect mouthwatering acidity. You can’t go wrong with any of the 2021 Syrahs from Force Majeure, so pick them up if you can find them. About 350 cases were crafted.”

98 Points– Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

VINTAGES

2020 | 2021

RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE GRENACHE

 

“From vines planted in 2015 and 100% Grenache, the 2021 Grenache Red Mountain Estate reveals a medium ruby hue as well as a great, classic nose of kirsch, wild strawberries, wildflowers, and spice. Beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, round, and voluptuous, it’s a gorgeous Grenache that will evolve for 10-15 years.”

 

– 94-96 points, Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.com

VINTAGES

2021

RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE ‘Les Volés’ mourvèdre

 

The ‘Les Volés’ Mourvèdre is only bottled in exceptional vintages for our single block of once stolen Red Mountain Mourvèdre. 2019 was the last vintage of this wine.

 

“The 2019 Mourvedre Les Voles comes all from the estate on Red Mountain and is another incredible wine from this team. Red currants, darker cherries, sandalwood, violets, and white pepper are just some of its nuances, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a plush, layered mouthfeel, remarkable purity, and a great, great finish. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years, if not longer.” 

 

– 96 points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

SJR VINEYARD SYRAH, The rocks district

 

The SJR Vineyard Syrah is the only non-estate wine that Force Majeure makes. It is an excellent example of The Rocks District of Milton Freewater terroir that has twice received perfect 100-point scores.

 

“Force Majeure’s Syrahs are always at the top of my wish list every single year, and the 2021s are the best Todd Alexander has made so far. Resting 18 months on neutral French oak barrels, it allows the fruit to really shine through without anything it up. With fruit coming from The Rocks, you recognize that lovely funk immediately on the nose. I understand that it’s polarizing, but I can’t get enough of it. Bacon fat, crushed marionberries, dried purple flowers, pink grapefruit zest, black olive tapenade, and scorched wet earth tones spill from the glass on the nose and on the palate. The texture is bold and beautiful, with ripe tannins and perfect levels of acidity. Enjoy this one over the next 15 years with proper cellaring. Only 80 cases made. Highly recommended and editor’s choice.” 

– 100 points, Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE VIOGNIER

 

We grow a very small amount of Viognier on our Red Mountain vineyard, just below some of our Syrah blocks. Some of the Viognier is used for co-fermentation with Syrah and the rest is crafted into our estate Viognier, which is pressed and fermented in concrete and neutral French oak barrels. It is a full, rich and expressive wine without being oily or flabby, and retains beautifully balanced acidity with bright freshness and length. Aromatics of citrus, lychee, white flowers and spice are typical for this wine. Only members of the mailing list have access to the estate Viognier, as it is so limited in production that there is not enough to distribute.

RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE ÉPINETTE BLEND

 

Épinette is our Right-bank Bordeaux-inspired blend, and was named after an avenue in Libourne that leads to Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, the home of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Épinette is also the name of a musical instrument akin to a piano, as well as a word for pine tree, which is a fitting nod to our home in Washington state. The wine itself is a blend of primarily Merlot and Cabernet Franc, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, proportions of which change depending on the vintage. The Merlot and Cabernet Franc are grown in lower areas of our vineyard with deep, well-drained soils, much less rocky than the soils of our Rhone varietals. Before bottling, this wine evolves for approximately 22 months in mostly new French oak, after a long maceration and fermentation in concrete and stainless steel vats. This wine, along with our Cabernet Sauvignon, should age exceptionally well.

VINTAGES

2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021

RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 

Our estate Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful but elegant, full-bodied wine that is grown primarily along the southwest ridge of our vineyard, in soils that are deep and loamy but contain many small rocks of fractured basalt, concreted ash and even some granite from Missoula flood erratics. The vines produce small berries with bountiful flavor, concentration and intensity, but also a good degree of finesse, excellent structure and layers of complexity that will continue to develop during extended bottle aging for those who want to cellar and age their wines. This wine spends approximately 22 months in 95% new French oak after a long, warm fermentation and extended skin contact on certain lots. We are expanding our Cabernet Sauvignon plantings to add new dimensions to this already gorgeous and serious wine. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

VINTAGES

2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 20172018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021

RED MOUNTAIN ESTATE CABERNET FRANC

 

“All varietal from a single block in the estate vineyard and resting in 65% new French oak, the tiny production 2021 Cabernet Franc Red Mountain Estate reveals a vivid purple hue as well as vibrant aromatics of cassis and currant fruits, some savory, herb, lead pencil, and floral nuances, medium to full body, and fine tannins. It’s beautifully done and clearly a brilliant wine, but unfortunately, there are a scant 75 cases, so good luck finding any.”

 

 

–  95-97 points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com

VINTAGES

2021

WALLA WALLA ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON

 

Our Walla Walla Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant and balanced wine that is grown in the Walla Walla Valley, on the Oregon side of the state line. The soils are silt loam on top of basalt river cobblestones. These vines produce classic Bordeaux flavors, minerality and complexity, with great structure that will continue to develop during extended bottle aging for those who want to cellar and age their wines. This wine spends approximately 22 months in 75% new French oak after a long, warm fermentation and extended skin contact on certain lots. Free run. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

VINTAGES

2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021