**What is it:** There's the term "Cult Cabernet" kicking around out there. I'm not sure we'll ever agree on what is and isn't on that list, but there's a reasonable claim that Force Majeure is a cult winery.
While famous for their cab, I think the syrah is a better wine. 97% Syrah off Red Mountain with a 3% Viognier coferment and 15% whole cluster. Aged 18 months in 23% new large format French oak.
**Price Paid:** $89/btl as part of the membership program
**Nose:** Violets and peppercorns, a sort of burnt dirt smell that I've been told is "volcanic soil". Fresh currants, ripe blueberries.
**Palate:** A lot of extract, to the point where this is mild infanticide -- if you've had 2009 Bordeaux, it's got the same heavy powerful mouthfeel. Slightly savory with iron and earth, but then a layer of fully ripe black fruits, peppercorn, and violets on top of it. I think it's a very impressive middle ground between Australia and the Rhone, but I want just a touch more acid to balance out the richness.
**Takeaway:** It's utterly fantastic and I see why critics give it such high scores. It's more of a syrah for Napa enjoyers, but there's nothing with doing that if you do it this well. 5/
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Gorgeous Syrah. Red and black fruits, super savory, Asian spices, licorice, bitter chocolate, minerals and more minerals. Sweet, soft lush tannins and firm grip on the finish. Drank this to see how it is drinking now. This will benefit from another 5-6 years in the bottle and then it will go another decade. Really well made wine.
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Initially, the wine offered up rich and seductive scents of red berries, black cherries, plums, and mocha. The mouthfeel: creamy, fruity, and alcoholic. After several hours, however, this seemingly promising creation was overwhelmed by alcohol and unrelenting bitterness. The fruit seemed to have retreated into submission, leaving behind a very muted wine whose structure was lacking. Is this merely a passing phase? Hard to say, but I’m not sticking around to find out.
Oooh mommy, is this wine savory. I couldn't just let it sit, but at least I decanted for a full eight hours. Absolutely delicious from entry to finish.
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Hands down one of my favorite syrahs. The fruit is dark cherry with underripe raspberry; with dark chocolate and very slight coffee notes. Medium full body but glass-coating viscosity. What's surprising is the dryness... so hard to pull off with syrah. This tells me I should have waited a few more years. The tannins are integrated but at this stage are somewhat effervescent. This wine is very well made indeed!
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Four hour decant. This youngster's showing is immediately incredible. Beautiful texture and very dark staining fruit are packed on a big frame. Perfectly smooth and balanced, it requires a few more years to develop the hints it offers to its complexity. Love what this winery has become.
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Didn't listen to the advice of the allocation mailer that came with my shipment on letting the bottles rest for a few months, or wait the 3-5 recommended years either. However I did heed their advice of a generous decant if drinking young, for a good 4 hours and was very pleased with the results. The first thing I noticed was the floral character that really took over on the nose. Absolutely lovely. Some peppery character and blue fruit as well. Gobs of dark fruit and savory notes on the first sip that I'm sure will become even better if you can follow the advice of the winery. If you have more than a couple of bottles do yourself a favor and enjoy at least one bottle young with a good decant. My other bottles will be tucked away to slumber for 3-5 years now. I really think Jeb's barrel sample note completely nailed this one.
5/3/2024 - MJP Hou TX Likes this wine: 93 Points
PNP and consumed over a few days.
Pretty solid domestic Syrah. Not overly polished with heat under control.
Drink or hold
93+
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4/12/2024 - ThatFrenchieGuy Likes this wine: 95 Points
**What is it:** There's the term "Cult Cabernet" kicking around out there. I'm not sure we'll ever agree on what is and isn't on that list, but there's a reasonable claim that Force Majeure is a cult winery.
While famous for their cab, I think the syrah is a better wine. 97% Syrah off Red Mountain with a 3% Viognier coferment and 15% whole cluster. Aged 18 months in 23% new large format French oak.
**Price Paid:** $89/btl as part of the membership program
**Nose:** Violets and peppercorns, a sort of burnt dirt smell that I've been told is "volcanic soil". Fresh currants, ripe blueberries.
**Palate:** A lot of extract, to the point where this is mild infanticide -- if you've had 2009 Bordeaux, it's got the same heavy powerful mouthfeel. Slightly savory with iron and earth, but then a layer of fully ripe black fruits, peppercorn, and violets on top of it. I think it's a very impressive middle ground between Australia and the Rhone, but I want just a touch more acid to balance out the richness.
**Takeaway:** It's utterly fantastic and I see why critics give it such high scores. It's more of a syrah for Napa enjoyers, but there's nothing with doing that if you do it this well. 5/
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2024 - mojotojo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gorgeous Syrah. Red and black fruits, super savory, Asian spices, licorice, bitter chocolate, minerals and more minerals. Sweet, soft lush tannins and firm grip on the finish. Drank this to see how it is drinking now. This will benefit from another 5-6 years in the bottle and then it will go another decade. Really well made wine.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2023 - Musinus wrote: 85 Points
Initially, the wine offered up rich and seductive scents of red berries, black cherries, plums, and mocha. The mouthfeel: creamy, fruity, and alcoholic. After several hours, however, this seemingly promising creation was overwhelmed by alcohol and unrelenting bitterness. The fruit seemed to have retreated into submission, leaving behind a very muted wine whose structure was lacking. Is this merely a passing phase? Hard to say, but I’m not sticking around to find out.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
12/18/2022 - jeagle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Oooh mommy, is this wine savory. I couldn't just let it sit, but at least I decanted for a full eight hours. Absolutely delicious from entry to finish.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/23/2022 - ThomasB99 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Hands down one of my favorite syrahs. The fruit is dark cherry with underripe raspberry; with dark chocolate and very slight coffee notes. Medium full body but glass-coating viscosity. What's surprising is the dryness... so hard to pull off with syrah. This tells me I should have waited a few more years.
The tannins are integrated but at this stage are somewhat effervescent. This wine is very well made indeed!
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2022 - jeagle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Four hour decant. This youngster's showing is immediately incredible. Beautiful texture and very dark staining fruit are packed on a big frame. Perfectly smooth and balanced, it requires a few more years to develop the hints it offers to its complexity. Love what this winery has become.
6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/2/2021 - Scotty56 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Didn't listen to the advice of the allocation mailer that came with my shipment on letting the bottles rest for a few months, or wait the 3-5 recommended years either. However I did heed their advice of a generous decant if drinking young, for a good 4 hours and was very pleased with the results. The first thing I noticed was the floral character that really took over on the nose. Absolutely lovely. Some peppery character and blue fruit as well. Gobs of dark fruit and savory notes on the first sip that I'm sure will become even better if you can follow the advice of the winery. If you have more than a couple of bottles do yourself a favor and enjoy at least one bottle young with a good decant. My other bottles will be tucked away to slumber for 3-5 years now. I really think Jeb's barrel sample note completely nailed this one.
5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2)