" We don't sell the wine without touching the vine "
Force Majeure Epinette 2018
Our Price: $125.00 $99.00
6 bottles with free shipping for: $594.00
12 bottles with free shipping for: $1,140.00
6 bottles with free shipping for: $594.00
12 bottles with free shipping for: $1,140.00
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| Country: | United States |
| Regions: | Washington Washington (Red Mountain) |
| Winery: | Force Majeure |
| Grape Type: | Merlot |
| Vintage: | 2018 |
| Bottle Size: | 750 ml |
Product Description
Force Majeure Epinette is made from 79% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot .
Epinette is Force Majeure's Right-bank Bordeaux-inspired blend, and was named after an avenue in Libourne (France) that leads to Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, the home of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Epinette 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 their 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 the vineyard with deep, well-drained soils, much less rocky than the soils of our Rhone varietals.
Review:
The 2018 Epinette is the Merlot-dominated release from this team, and it's 79% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, all from the estate vineyard on Red Mountain. Lots of smoky black cherry and darker currant fruits as well as notes of chocolate, graphite, lead pencil, and chalky minerality emerge from the glass, and this full-bodied beauty is beautifully textured, with a stacked mid-palate, velvety tannins, and a blockbuster finish. It's up with the finest Merlots in the New World and will drink brilliantly for at least a decade, if not longer. Previously known as Grand Reve, Force Majeure has skyrocketed to the top of the pyramid in Washington State, in no small part due to their talented winemaker, Todd Alexander, who moved from Bryant Family in Napa to Washington State to focus on this estate. While the focus is on their Red Mountain Vineyard, they make a bevy of world-class wines from throughout the Columbia Valley. Anyone doubting the quality coming from Washington State these days owes it to themselves to try these wines.
-Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
Winery: Force Majeure
Force Majeure is an ultra-premium winery located in the Walla Walla Valley, specializing in estate-grown, single-vineyard Bordeaux and Rhône-inspired wines. Our wines are meticulously crafted by former Bryant Family Vineyard Winemaker, Todd Alexander. From its inception, Force Majeure has been defined by unwavering commitment to outstanding viticulture and exemplary winemaking. Our original estate vineyard is located in the famous Red Mountain AVA and we have added two new vineyard sites over the past couple of years in the Walla Walla Valley. Our estate vineyards are painstakingly farmed by a stellar team.
“Force Majeure” describes the relentless, powerful elements of Nature that form the terroir of our vineyard. It also identifies the “unstoppable force” initiated when the highest level of viticulture is combined with the highest level of winemaking talent.
Our wines are produced in small quantities and are available via mailing list, as well as through a few select retailers and finer restaurants. We invite you to add your name to our mailing list to receive upcoming wine allocation offers. Wines are typically released two to three times per year.
Vineyards:
“Force Majeure has already established itself in the top tier of Washington wineries.” – Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator
RED MOUNTAIN AVA
Drawing inspiration from the great vineyards of Bordeaux, the Northern and Southern Rhône valleys, as well as parts of Spain, and with a desire to challenge existing viticultural practices in Washington state, we embarked on an ambitious plan to pioneer the very first vineyard on the steep, rocky upper slopes of Red Mountain, from where we knew we could create wines that were profound and powerful yet balanced and finessed, distinct and world-class. Most importantly, we knew the site would be unique and singular.
The effort to develop our Red Mountain estate site involved the careful matching of varietal and clonal selections, trellising and irrigation to the eight distinct soil types in our vineyard that were formed by the ancient Missoula floods, winds and volcanic activity. The outcome is a vineyard articulated into many small “micro-blocks,” maximizing the potential of this unique and dynamic site. This steep vineyard ranges in elevation from 960 to 1,230 feet and is, of course, completely farmed by hand. The rocky upper-slope with shallow soil is well suited to the cultivation of varietals such as Syrah and Grenache, while the lower blocks of the vineyard are comprised of deep, well-drained Warden soils, where varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc excel.
The overall exposure of the site is west/southwest, and the Syrah planted on the hill is tightly spaced to provide some shade on the fruit. The soils have a volcanic foundation, being composed of fractured basalt, concreted ash and wind-blown loess with a high calcium carbonate content and granite erratics from the Missoula floods. The site was purchased in 2004 and development began in 2006.
ROCKS DISTRICT OF MILTON-FREEWATER AVA
We have recently acquired a small vineyard in the Walla Walla Valley, one-hour drive from Red Mountain. The property is partially within the boundaries of the The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, on the Oregon side of the border, and is located adjacent to the site of our new winery. The portion of the vineyard outside The Rocks District is within the borders of the Walla Walla Valley AVA. The Rocks District is an alluvial fan, and the cobbles that define the area are a result of deposits left by the Walla Walla River. This vineyard was planted between 1992 and 1994, and has a diverse soil profile that sets it apart from other vineyards in the area, and certainly from our Red Mountain site. The amount of soil covering the cobble stones is highest at the north end of the property and most shallow at the southern end. This gives us a lot of diversity within a small area, and the grapes will have different characteristics depending on the soil composition where they are grown. This vineyard is in an area proven to have very distinct terroir, and we know we can push the site further by bringing it under our care and attention.
THE NORTH FORK OF THE WALLA WALLA RIVER
Over the past couple of years, we have been in search of additional land to develop vineyards that differ from our Red Mountain estate, yet are capable of matching or exceeding the quality we achieve from that site. This search resulted in the acquisition of The Rocks District site mentioned previously, as well as the discovery of a new and exiting region about 15 minutes away from there.
As you move east from The Rocks District and our new winery, in about 15 minutes drive the topography changes dramatically – from flat lands with cobblestone soils to deep canyons with tall, steep hills as you approach the Blue Mountains that line the eastern ridge of the Walla Walla Valley. The area is wild and untamed, with only a couple of small vineyards located nearby. This area does not yet have a name, but the locals refer to it the as “The North Fork” because the North Fork of the Walla Walla River runs along the bottom of the canyon.
We have recently acquired a large piece of land in this area. It is a spectacularly beautiful site, and its elevation rises to almost 2100 feet. As it is so close to the Blue Mountains, it receives significantly more rainfall than many other parts of the Walla Walla Valley and Red Mountain. The high temperatures in the summer are more moderate, and the cold temperatures in the winter are less extreme than on the valley floor. The growing season at this site will be longer than either site in The Rocks District or Red Mountain.
This is a huge and exciting step into new and mostly unexplored territory, but promises to feed our passion for hillside sites and the wines made from them. We believe this site is capable of nurturing some of the best wine grapes, not just in the Pacific Northwest, but in North America. The combination of climatic characteristics, exposure and aspects as well as soil composition should make this land one of the most exciting new viticultural areas in the United States. In the future, this region is sure to be a new, single AVA. The size of that future AVA may be as small as 500 acres.
_________________________________
The unique topography and geological variants in these vineyards provide us with a versatility that allows us to cultivate a variety of compelling fruit characterized by stunning intensity, depth, concentration and complex flavors. The sites are all distinct and singular – yet taken together, they provide a fascinating exposition of the terroir in this region of the world.
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Review:
From the 2017 vintage, the Viales bottled a single tonneau of 2017 Hermitage* in a heavy bottle; the label is otherwise identical to the regular bottling. This is riper and darker-fruited, with notes of cassis and blackberry rather than red berries. Full-bodied, expansive and powerful, it's also richly tannic and in need of cellaring. It's like the volume has been turned up to 11 but without any sense of distortion.
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Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
The estate Cabernet Sauvignon is grown primarily along the southwest ridge of the vineyard. 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. The wine is powerful, elegant, full-bodied.
Bottled unfined and unfiltered.100% free run
Pumpovers and punch-downs, up to 45 day macerations
Native yeast, 5 day cold soaks
22 months in 75% new French oak barrels
Fermented in concrete and stainless closed top tanks.
Review:
Another gem is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate, a deep, concentrated, powerful Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that I suspect will be up there with the legendary wines from this terroir. Beautiful cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and damp earth notes give way to a full-bodied effort that has a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, flawless balance, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it will evolve for 25-30 years if properly stored. Best After 2026.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points
"Blackberry, crushed rock, black cherry and spice aromas lead to ripe, intense, seamless, balanced dark-fruit flavors. The tannins give a firm grip. An extended finish caps it off. It's glorious. - SEAN P. SULLIVAN" - Wine Enthusiast (November 2022), 95 pts "A gutsy red that retains a sense of style and polish, with expressive blackberry, espresso and toasty spice flavors that build structure toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2030. —Tim FISH." - Wine Spectator (Insider, January 4th 2023), 94 ptsReview:
Another gem is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate, a deep, concentrated, powerful Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that I suspect will be up there with the legendary wines from this terroir. Beautiful cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and damp earth notes give way to a full-bodied effort that has a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, flawless balance, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it will evolve for 25-30 years if properly stored.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
A stunning bottling from Red Mountain, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon shows incredible flavor density and tension from this cooler vintage. On the nose, it shows off exotic spices that mingle with tar, anise, crème de cassis and violets. The palate is plush and jam-packed full of dark fruits, tobacco leaf, huckleberry coulis and mocha; refined tannins hold everything in place. Astonishingly good in its youth, this has at least another 20 years ahead of it. Be sure to give it at least a two-hour decant if enjoying young.
-Owen Bargreen (Vinous) 97 Points
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Bottled unfined and unfiltered.100% free run
Pumpovers and punch-downs, up to 45 day macerations
Native yeast, 5 day cold soaks
22 months in 75% new French oak barrels
Fermented in concrete and stainless closed top tanks.
Review:
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is another powerful wine from this team. Opulent notes of blackcurrants, graphite, chocolate, crushed rocks, wild herbs, and espresso all give way to a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that has loads of fruit, a superstar of a mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s another 2017 that’s going to benefit from at least 2-4 years of bottle age and have 20 years or more of longevity.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
The 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is focused on the nose, with a clean expression of black fruit over tiramisu cake, with a dusty edge. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the mouthfeel is ripe and grippy with grainy tannins at the moment and fills the mid-palate with focused, bitter dark chocolate and blackberry preserve. The wine ends with a precision that brings pleasure on the still tight but long and lingering finish. With only 475 cases produced, this is a sure bet.
-Anthony Mueller (Robert Parker) 95 Points
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-Wine Spectator's Insider 93 Points
Bright full ruby. Musky, very ripe scents of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry and licorice--not quite port-like but less nuanced than the Epinette blend. Wonderfully glossy, rich and suave in the middle palate, with very ripe, deep dark berry and milk chocolate flavors accented by menthol and herbs. The wine's superripeness, fatness and underlying herbal and mineral notes should come into greater harmony with another few years of bottle aging bottle; today the Epinette blend is easier to drink.
-Stephen Tanzer (Vinous) 92 Points
Figgins Estate Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot & Merlot
Dark to the rim, with signature aromatic notes of ripe red and blue fruits, tanned leather, black olive, and lilac. The nose simply brings a smile. On the palate, if I had to describe the wine in one word it would be precision. The way the sweet fruit and dramatic length are braced by lively acidity and tannins aligns so perfectly that the wine is, quite simply, delicious.
Review:
The 2019 Red Estate is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Merlot from the higher elevations of the Figgins estate. The 2019 is cool and collected in the glass, with soaring floral aromatics and minty herbs complementing notes of red plum and sweet smoke. It's round and supple on the palate, with ripe wild berry fruits that slowly saturate toward the close. This finishes with gritty tannins and youthfully poised, yet concentrated, as lingering notes of tobacco and hints of lavender slowly fade. There's a radiance and harmony encapsulated within the 2019 that is seldom seen. It’s a well-muscled dancer that is sure to impress for many years to come.
-Eric Guido (Vinous) 97 Points
The 2019 Red Wine comes from the estate vineyard outside of Walla Walla and is based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Merlot, all aged 22 months in new and once-used French oak. Its saturated purple color is followed by a gorgeous bouquet of cassis and blueberries fruit as well as spicy oak, tobacco, and scorched earth-like minerality. Full-bodied on the palate, it's supple and forward at first yet builds on the palate, with more density and tannins showing on the finish. The purity is spot on, as is the balance, and it's another beautiful wine that warrants 2-4 years of bottle age and will have 20 years of overall longevity. It's one of the top releases in the vintage. There are 1,617 cases produced.
-Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
Inviting aromas of vivid red fruit, fresh herbs and paprika. Full-bodied with juicy, fruit-soaked, fine tannins. Delightful. So much happening here. The fruit is plentiful and full of charming spice and herbal complexity. Very well balanced and long. Fresh. A blend of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot. Best after 2024 but attractive now.
-James Suckling 96 Points
Pago de los Capellanes Reserva is made from 100% Tempranillo.
After carefully monitoring the vineyards, we determine the date of the harvest based on the maturity of the grapes. The varieties are collected and fermented separately in 20,000 litre tanks.
In 2007, production was just less than 5000 kg per hectare. This wine is prepared with Tempranillo 100% grapes from our vineyards.
The grapes are initially subjected to a six-day pre-fermentation cold maceration below 14ºC. They then undergo 30 days of alcoholic fermentation at a controlled temperature of 28ºC, after which the wine is removed from the tanks without pressing the grape skins. The malolactic fermentation is slow and relaxed at a temperature of 20 ºC for 28 days without the addition of bacteria.
The wine is aged for18 months in new French oak barrels and is decanted into new barrels every six months. At the end of this period, the wine is blended and bottled without undergoing any type of filtration, clarification or cold treatment.
Prepared with Tempranillo grapes (100%), this wine has a ruby red colour with very pure, intense garnet tones.
Its bouquet has fine complexity with tones of ripened fruit, especially cherries, blue berries and black currants, which are in harmony with tones of good wood, spices (vanilla and coconut) and a liquorice undertone.
In the mouth, this wine displays great balance, proving pleasing to the taste, sweet due to the maturity of its tannins and exuberant on account of its pleasant level of acidity.
Vineyard:
Pago de los Capellanes, Pedrosa de Duero.
Variety composition:
100% Tempranillo.
Type of soil:
Clayey and chalky.
Aging:
18 months in barrel and remainder on rack.
Type of oak:
100% French oak, medium toast.
Serving:
Uncork and decant one hour before serving at a temperature of 16-18 ºC.
The 2019 Ribera del Duero Reserva is also terrific, with gorgeous aromatics of black and blue fruits supported by Asian spices, lead pencils, cedarwood, and violets. It's beautifully textured, medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated, powerful mouthfeel, and ripe, integrated tannins.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
-Vinous 93 Points
"Draws you in with enticing aromatics of black tea leaf, lavender and graphite box, with creamy layers of ripe black cherry and plum compote flavors and hints of ground coffee and fresh loamy earth, all married to refined tannins. Focused and medium- to full-bodied, with a long, spiced finish. Lovely. Drink now through 2033. 65,000 cases made, 180 cases imported. - Alison NAPJUS"-Wine Spectator 92 Points
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Force Majeure Epinette is made from 46% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot.
Epinette is Force Majeure's Right-bank Bordeaux-inspired blend, and was named after an avenue in Libourne (France) that leads to Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, the home of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Epinette 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 their 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 the vineyard with deep, well-drained soils, much less rocky than the soils of our Rhone varietals.
Review:
Aged 22 months in 65% new oak, the 2016 Epinette (46% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot) reveals a deep purple color as well a big blast of chocolate, ground herbs, blackberries, dried earth, and wood smoke. It's a powerful, seriously endowed, fleshy, ripe, and sexy Merlot to drink over the coming 10-15 years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points
I loved the 2016 Epinette from barrel, and it certainly doesn't disappoint from bottle. Sporting a deep purple color as well as a huge bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherries, smoked earth, chocolate, and cedary spice, this flamboyant, powerful beauty hits the palate with loads of fruit, has sweet tannins, no hard edges, building tannins, and a huge finish. It's one seriously pleasure-bent effort that has another 10-15 years of prime drinking." - Jeb Dunnuck (April 2019), 96+ pts "Dark full ruby. Violet lift to the aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, licorice, subtle peppery herbs and minerals. Wonderfully plush but youthfully unevolved, conveying a smoother texture and more class than the Cabernet, as well as a deeper kernel of primary fruit despite the fact that this is a Bordeaux blend and not a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. A bit less thick and overwhelming than the Cabernet, and more complex and delineated. Finishes with big tongue- and tooth-saturating tannins that are a bit more suave than those of the Cabernet. - Stephen Tanzer
-Antonio Galloni's Vinous 94 Points
Dark full ruby. Violet lift to the aromas of blackberry, black raspberry, licorice, subtle peppery herbs and minerals. Wonderfully plush but youthfully unevolved, conveying a smoother texture and more class than the Cabernet, as well as a deeper kernel of primary fruit despite the fact that this is a Bordeaux blend and not a varietal Cabernet Sauvignon. A bit less thick and overwhelming than the Cabernet, and more complex and delineated. Finishes with big tongue- and tooth-saturating tannins that are a bit more suave than those of the Cabernet.
-Stephen Tanzer (Vinous) 94 Points
Force Majeure Epinette is made from 46% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot.
Epinette is Force Majeure's Right-bank Bordeaux-inspired blend, and was named after an avenue in Libourne (France) that leads to Pomerol and Saint-Émilion, the home of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Epinette 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 their 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 the vineyard with deep, well-drained soils, much less rocky than the soils of our Rhone varietals.
Review:
Billed as the estate’s Right Bank blend, the 2017 Epinette is all estate and 53% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. It’s a rich, powerful, Château Pavie-like wine that has classic Red Mountain minerality as well as notes of blackcurrants, chocolate, violets, sagebrush, and white truffles. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully concentrated, with building tannins, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 10-15 years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Épinette opens with a clean and expressive core of black raspberry and dusty plum skin with subtle dried herbs lurking on the nose. The wine is medium to full-bodied and mineral-driven on the palate, with dusty and ripe blackberry and touches of fern and sage. The wine ends with a focused and long-lasting finish with delightful Kirsh flavors and subtle hints of oak. With only 390 cases made, this will make a lovely addition to any cellar.
-Anthony Mueller (Robert Parker) 94 Points
Force Majeure Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain is made from 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon.
The estate Cabernet Sauvignon is grown primarily along the southwest ridge of the vineyard. 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. The wine is powerful, elegant, full-bodied.
Bottled unfined and unfiltered.100% free run
Pumpovers and punch-downs, up to 45 day macerations
Native yeast, 5 day cold soaks
22 months in 75% new French oak barrels
Fermented in concrete and stainless closed top tanks.
Review:
Another gem is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate, a deep, concentrated, powerful Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that I suspect will be up there with the legendary wines from this terroir. Beautiful cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and damp earth notes give way to a full-bodied effort that has a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, flawless balance, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it will evolve for 25-30 years if properly stored. Best After 2026.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points
"Blackberry, crushed rock, black cherry and spice aromas lead to ripe, intense, seamless, balanced dark-fruit flavors. The tannins give a firm grip. An extended finish caps it off. It's glorious. - SEAN P. SULLIVAN" - Wine Enthusiast (November 2022), 95 pts "A gutsy red that retains a sense of style and polish, with expressive blackberry, espresso and toasty spice flavors that build structure toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2030. —Tim FISH." - Wine Spectator (Insider, January 4th 2023), 94 ptsReview:
Another gem is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate, a deep, concentrated, powerful Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that I suspect will be up there with the legendary wines from this terroir. Beautiful cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and damp earth notes give way to a full-bodied effort that has a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, flawless balance, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it will evolve for 25-30 years if properly stored.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
A stunning bottling from Red Mountain, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon shows incredible flavor density and tension from this cooler vintage. On the nose, it shows off exotic spices that mingle with tar, anise, crème de cassis and violets. The palate is plush and jam-packed full of dark fruits, tobacco leaf, huckleberry coulis and mocha; refined tannins hold everything in place. Astonishingly good in its youth, this has at least another 20 years ahead of it. Be sure to give it at least a two-hour decant if enjoying young.
-Owen Bargreen (Vinous) 97 Points
Blackberry, crushed rock, black cherry and spice aromas lead to ripe, intense, seamless, balanced dark-fruit flavors. The tannins give a firm grip. An extended finish caps it off. It's glorious.
-Wine Enthusiast 95 Points
Force Majeure estate Syrah is made from 100 percent Syrah.
The Force Majeure estate Syrah is cultivated in a combination of the 8 soil types that exist in the vineyard, with most of it being planted in very steep, very rocky locations, but some also planted in deeper, loamier soils.
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.
Appellation Red Mountain Varietal(s) 100% Syrah
Soil type Very steep, rocky locations, but some also planted in deeper, loamier soils
Vinification 22% whole cluster, remainder destemmed. Fermented in concrete, open top and closed top stainless. ~25% new French oak for 18 months, mostly larger format (300L to 500L) Native yeast, cold soak up front Macerations up to 30 days; pumpovers and punch-downs 100% free run. The wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Production 500 (9-liter cases)
Review:
Co-fermented with 2% Viognier, the 2020 Syrah Red Mountain Estate reveals a deed purple/plum color as well as gorgeous aromatics of red and black fruits, chalky minerality, ground pepper, and smoked meats. This rich, full-bodied, concentrated, structured Syrah has plenty of mid-palate density, building tannins, and a great finish. It needs 2-4 years of bottle age, but this brilliant Syrah will have two decades of overall longevity.
-Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points
The 2020 Syrah Red Mountain Estate impresses with its perfumed bouquet of dusty violet florals, black currants and seared meats, complemented by an enriching hint of whole butter. Silky-smooth and sleek, this is savory to the core and minerally intense, with crisp black fruits that drench the palate. It finishes structured and long, pinching at the cheeks with youthful concentration as echoes of licorice and savory spice linger. What a beauty. This is a co-fermented blend of 98% Syrah and 2% Viognier, 22% whole clusters and refined in 33% new oak.
-Eric Guido (Vinous) 95 Points
Made with 2% Viognier, the 2020 Estate Syrah is firm, floral and spicy with notes of plum and cherry reduction with hints of oak and bitter dark chocolate. Full-bodied, mineral and expressive, the palate is juicy with a food-friendly and spicy finish that will need some time in the bottle to settle. The wine rested for 18 months in 25% new French oak, all larger format. 4,200 bottles produced.
-Anthony Mueller (Robert Parker) 94 Points
Force Majeure Parvata is made from 69% Mourvedre, 21% Syrah, 10% Grenache (2016) / 43% Mourvedre, 25% Grenache, 23% Syrah, 4% Cinsault, 5% Counoise
Parvata means “mountain” in sanskrit, and is the name for this southern Rhône-inspired blend, grown mostly in the sandy, loamy soils of the lower section of the 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.
Review:
Another great vintage for this cuvée, which was first released in 2015, the 2017 Parvata is based on 43% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Counoise and Cinsault. It’s a powerful, backward effort (not surprising, given the high Mourvèdre content) and offers lots of bloody, iron-laced blue fruits, violets, incense, herbes de Provence, and peppery spices on the nose. These carry to a full-bodied red that has beautiful fruit, terrific overall balance, and building yet ripe tannins. It’s terrific, but it needs 3-4 years of bottle age, at which point it’s going to evolve for at least a decade.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
The 2017 Parvata is a blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Syrah that shows precision, focus and mineral tension, along with a core of red fruit tones, including wild strawberry, dark cherry and spiced red plums. Medium to full-bodied and clean on the palate, the wine has soft red spices and structured grainy tannins, with subtle oak spices on the correct and expressive finish. Showing well now, this wine is slated to be released in 2020. Only 420 cases made.
-Anthony Mueller (Robert Parker) 95 Points
The estate Cabernet Sauvignon is grown primarily along the southwest ridge of the vineyard. 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. The wine is powerful, elegant, full-bodied.
Bottled unfined and unfiltered.100% free run
Pumpovers and punch-downs, up to 45 day macerations
Native yeast, 5 day cold soaks
22 months in 75% new French oak barrels
Fermented in concrete and stainless closed top tanks.
Review:
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is another powerful wine from this team. Opulent notes of blackcurrants, graphite, chocolate, crushed rocks, wild herbs, and espresso all give way to a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that has loads of fruit, a superstar of a mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s another 2017 that’s going to benefit from at least 2-4 years of bottle age and have 20 years or more of longevity.
-Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points
The 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is focused on the nose, with a clean expression of black fruit over tiramisu cake, with a dusty edge. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the mouthfeel is ripe and grippy with grainy tannins at the moment and fills the mid-palate with focused, bitter dark chocolate and blackberry preserve. The wine ends with a precision that brings pleasure on the still tight but long and lingering finish. With only 475 cases produced, this is a sure bet.
-Anthony Mueller (Robert Parker) 95 Points
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is another powerful wine from this team. Opulent notes of blackcurrants, graphite, chocolate, crushed rocks, wild herbs, and espresso all give way to a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that has loads of fruit, a superstar of a mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s another 2017 that’s going to benefit from at least 2-4 years of bottle age and have 20 years or more of longevity." - Jeb Dunnuck (April 2020), 95+ pts "Opens with a burst of rich black raspberry and smoky pepper flavors, building tension and structure toward muscular, mineral-tinged tannins. Best from 2022 through 2030. —Tim FISH
-Wine Spectator's Insider 93 Points
Bright full ruby. Musky, very ripe scents of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry and licorice--not quite port-like but less nuanced than the Epinette blend. Wonderfully glossy, rich and suave in the middle palate, with very ripe, deep dark berry and milk chocolate flavors accented by menthol and herbs. The wine's superripeness, fatness and underlying herbal and mineral notes should come into greater harmony with another few years of bottle aging bottle; today the Epinette blend is easier to drink.
-Stephen Tanzer (Vinous) 92 Points
- back
Mascot is a small-production label founded by Will Harlan in Napa Valley. The wines under this label are made from the younger vines of Harlan Estate, BOND, and Promontory, but The Mascot bottles share an exclusive preview at the development of their estates. Founded as an initial experiment to see what the young vines were capable of producing, the wines were initially only shared with close friends and family. By 2008, Will officially released the first vintage to the public since production had increased significantly. They create just one wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon, and the bottle is aged for five years before release. Assembled into a single, youthful expression, this wine shares a glimpse into the evolution and pedigree of its parent estates.
Reynvaan Foothills Reserve Estate Syrah 2021 is made from 100% Syrah.
Reynvaan Family Vineyards was founded in 2004 by Mike and Gale Reynvaan in Washington’s Walla Walla Valley, with son Matt Reynvaan as winemaker, and has become one of the most sought-after names in the state for its Rhône-inspired, estate-grown reds. The Foothills Reserve is a barrel selection from the family’s high-elevation Foothills in the Sun Vineyard, planted in 2008 on loess soils over deep basalt in the foothills of the Blue Mountains.
Walla Walla Valley Syrah is prized for two very different terroirs: the basalt-cobblestone Rocks District, known for savory, meaty, olive-and-mineral character, and the wind-swept loess hillsides that lend structure, freshness and lift. The Foothills site sits among the latter, giving a Syrah of both power and energy.
Review:
A total masterclass, the 2021 ‘Foothills Reserve’ is a barrel selection wine that comes from the Reynvaan’s high elevation estate Foothills In The Sun Vineyard. The site is set on Loess soils with deep basalt deposits and I have been writing about the potential of this site for more than a decade. Today, wines from this high-elevation location are every bit as good as those from their Rocks District vineyard. Hoisin sauce, beef drippings, menthol, and shades of wild blackberry all combine on the nose. The palate is utterly seamless with serious tension, weight and mouth-watering acidity. It offers La Landonne levels of flavor complexity, yielding blood orange zest notes alongside red cherry candy, cigar ash, wet stone and pipe tobacco that all brilliantly meld together on the palate. Showing seriously good flavor and aromatic range, enjoy this simply stunning Syrah now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2023-2037.
Owen Bargreen, 99 points
Review:
The 2021 Syrah Foothills Reserve (100% Syrah) is more powerful, with a darker core of black and blue fruits, ground pepper, smoked meat, and floral, rose petal-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and nicely structured, it has velvety tannins, a broad, layered mouthfeel, and a great finish. Give it just a year or two and enjoy bottles over the following 15 years.
-Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points
When the aroma of a pork chop rubbed with a mild spice and orange zest intersects with dark cherries and blackberries, we have a party. The party doesn't end on the palate, with Damson plum, blackberry and espresso flavors mixing it up with a meaty saline note suggesting blood pudding spiced with Calabrian chiles. Easily one of the best Syrahs I tasted this past year.
-Wine Enthusiast 97 Points
The 2021 Foothills Reserve is cool-toned and classic, with a bouquet of ripe blackberries and sage complicated by hints of smoke and air-dried meat. This is silky smooth and elegant without a hard edge in sight, as a savory blend of black fruits and spices swirls beneath an air of inner florals. Brilliant acidity maintains an amazing balance as a sour citrus note comes to the fore, tapering off long, staining, yet unexpectedly fresh. The 2021 Foothills Reserve is a varietal Syrah, with about 21% whole-cluster fermentation.
-Eric Guido (Vinous) 96 Points
This has wild and attractive aromas of green olives, bacon fat and...
-James Suckling 95 Points
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