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| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.9 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 14 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by flussier on 12/21/2023 & rated 92 points: Robe bourgogne foncée. Décanté 1h30, Vin sur la cerise, boisé et fruits noirs. Manque de complexité et de profondeur pour le prix, mais reste un très bon vin. Tannin arrondi. À boire maintenant (290 views) | | | Tasted by Amerique on 1/17/2022 & rated 94 points: Rich, delicious black cherry fruit with cassis, tar and chocolate flavors, excellent structure, ample tannin to last at least 10 more years, long finish (916 views) | | | Tasted by prasm on 12/31/2021 & rated 92 points: Pop and pour, consumed over 3 hours. Appearance: Clear, medium ruby with slight corner bricking. Nose: Clean, medium+ intensity with aromas of pencil lead, black olive, gravel, blackberry, and black raspberry with hints of green pepper and herbs. Palate: Dry, medium+ acid, soft medium tannin, 14.7% abv, medium+ body, medium+ intensity with developed flavors of perfectly ripe dark fruit - blackberry, spice, black olive, and bramble with a medium+ finish.
Overall this is an excellent effort in it's prime drinking window showing exceptional balance and excellent intensity, complexity and length. Drink now or over the next 2-3 years. (643 views) | | | Tasted by ploher on 7/9/2021: Excellent showing tonight; full-bodied with an intense and ripe fruit profile of cassis and raspberries and kirsch, some jam as well, but also freshnes in form of cardamom, ginger and maybe even a hint of mint, also some graphite here. Extraordinary tannin quality, quite long as well with some spicy ginger on the finish. Leans more towards Napa than Bordeaux in my opinion, which is fine, as long as the balance is right, and that's definitely the case here. Impressive. 17.5/20 (791 views) | | | Tasted by Glencoewine on 9/23/2019 & rated 92 points: 60 min decant wasn't nearly enough. Glad we saved the other half of the bottle for the next week. Completely different wine once it opened up. Too tight on night one; perhaps this means it still has a long life ahead? Will wait at least 2-3 years before opening our last bottle. (1877 views) | | | Tasted by Stevethebeav on 12/1/2018 & rated 89 points: underwhelmed. decanted for 1 hour, drank over 3 hours. Never came around. (1667 views) | | | Tasted by bigdogflow on 5/6/2017 & rated 93 points: Good depth and lots of flavor. (2318 views) | | | Tasted by nfurlong on 10/23/2016 & rated 93 points: Left-bank Bordeaux style by Ben Smith. brick/ garnet in color; earthy nose trending to cheese, volatile; Simply AMAZING red & black fruit! Juju beans, floral tones and graphite with long lingering fruity finish. (2079 views) | | | Tasted by jmcmchi on 8/13/2016 & rated 90 points: Attractive blueberry and cedar nose
Soft palate, tannins well integrated, supple fruit dominates mid- palate
V attractive,but the price.... (2022 views) | | | Tasted by tomlee on 8/11/2016 & rated 94 points: Dark crimson in color. 14.8% ABV. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot and 12% Malbec. Gorgeous nose of black fruits, mint, leather and earth. Complex and polished with old world qualities. Blackberry, black cherry, graphite and plums on the palate. The finish is long and graceful with silky tannins. Drink over the next 6-8 years. $65 at the winery and retail. (1746 views) |
| By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, Focus on Washington: Hot Times in the Desert (Nov 2016) (11/1/2016)
(Force Majeure Red Wine Collaboration Series I Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard Washington) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous. (manage subscription channels) |
| Force Majeure Producer Website
A visit to Force Majeure Estate and Vineyards in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater AVA, Walla Walla.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/10/force-majeure-vineyards-site-visit-and.html
Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.Ciel du Cheval VineyardCiel du Cheval (named for the wonderful views of the neighboring Horse Heaven Hills) sits further down the Red Mountain slope from Tapteil on slightly more vigorous soils. Jim Holmes has employed a fan trellis system and careful management to great effect; the wines are among the most elegant from Red Mountain without sacrificing any of the power and intensity typical of the terroir.
On weinlagen-infoUSAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.Washington Washington Wine Commission | Credit to Washingtonwine.org for this article
Washington Wine
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Wineries
With 30,000+ acres planted, the state has ideal geography and conditions for growing premium vinifera wine grapes. Primarily grown on their own root stocks, the vines produce grapes of consistent quality, resulting in strong vintages year after year. While its focus is on Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the region also produces a wide range of other spectacular whites and reds.
Growers
Winemakers from all over the world have chosen to establish themselves in Washington, where they can create wines reflecting this region's unique characteristics. Their hand-crafted wines are receiving wide acclaim from critics regionally, nationally and internationally for their consistently high quality. Many of them have received scores of 90 and above from the major wine media. Overall this is a higher percentage than other leading wine regions.
Regions
As the state's fourth largest fruit crop, the Washington wine industry is an important contributor to the long-term preservation of Washington agriculture. The industry is committed to sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of water resources.
Washington State is a premium wine producing region located in the northwest corner of the United States. Although a relatively young wine industry, it is now the nation's second largest wine producer and is ranked among the world's top wine regions. Washington wines are found nationally in all 50 states and internationally in more than 40 countries.
Varieties
Washington produces more than 20 wine grape varieties - a ratio of 56 percent white to 44 percent red. As the industry matures and experiments, it finds many grape varieties that thrive throughout Washington's microclimates. There are more than 16,000 vineyard acres of red wine varieties statewide.
History & Vintages
Washington's wine future is limitless. As consumers discover the quality of Washington wines, demand continues to grow nationally and internationally. New acreage and wine varietals are being planted and new wineries are opening at a remarkable pace. Washington State is recognized as a premium viticultural region around the world.
State Facts
Washington's wine industry generates more than $3 billion to the state economy. It employs more than 14,000 people, directly and indirectly, with projections to add nearly 2,000 more jobs by 2006. In terms of tax revenues accrued to the state and federal government, wine grapes are among the highest tax generators of any agricultural crops. Furthermore, Washington wine tourism attracts nearly two million visitors annually contributing to the positive growth of local and regional economies.
Washington State - the perfect climate for wine = ideal growing conditions, quality wines, business innovation, lifestyle, and social responsibility. All are key elements of this world-class wine industry.
Vintages
"2008 and even more so 2010 and 2011 were cool, even cold vintages (think: 2002 in the Barossa) without the extreme ripeness, extract and higher alcohol that had become the norm in the state’s post 1995 world. 2008 was manageable but the duo of 2010/2011 nearly caused a “great depression” in Washington State." - Jon RimmermanColumbia Valley Columbia Cascade Winery Association
The Columbia Valley AVA lies mostly in Washington state, with a small section in Oregon. The Cascade Range forms its western boundary with the Palouse regions bordering the area to the east. To the north, the Okanogan National Forest forms a border with the AVA and Canada. It encompasses the valleys formed by the Columbia River and its tributaries, including the Walla Walla River, the Snake River, and the Yakima River. The Columbia valley stretches between the 46th parallel and 47th parallel which puts it in line with the well known French wine growing regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The northern latitude gives the areas two more hours of additional daylight during the summer growing season than wine regions of California receive. The volcanic and sandy loam soil of the valley offers good drainage and is poor in nutrients, ideal in forcing the vine to concentrate its resources into the grape clusters.Red Mountain WinesNW Article on Red Mountain
Wine Enthusiast Article on Red Mountain
The Seattle Times Article on Red Mountain |
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