JamesSuckling.com

• By James Suckling
  4/22/2019 (link)

  (Force Majeure Syrah Red Mountain, Red, United States) Subscribe to see review text.

JebDunnuck.com

• By Jeb Dunnuck
  The 2016s From Washington State, 4/11/2019 (link)

  (Force Majeure Syrah Red Mountain Estate) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Stephen Tanzer
  Focus on Washington: The New Normal (Nov 2018), 11/1/2018 (link)

  (Force Majeure Syrah Estate Vineyard (red Mountain) Washington Red) Subscribe to see review text.

JebDunnuck.com

• By Jeb Dunnuck
  Latest Releases from Washington State, 4/5/2018 (link)

  (Force Majeure Syrah Red Mountain Estate) Subscribe to see review text.

Full Pull

• By Paul Zitarelli
  Full Pull Force Majeure, 5/5/2019

  (Force Majeure Estate Syrah) Hello friends. Force Majeure is clearly now a top tier Washington winery When they launched, they were truly pioneers of the steepest, rockiest parts of upper Red Mountain. With a distinct vision—revolutionary viticulture practices and world-class wines—their first estate vineyard was purchased in 2004 and began development in 2006. This super steep vineyard has eight distinct soil types, all brought to Red Mountain by either the Missoula floods, heavy wind, or volcanic activity. The elevation ranges from 960 to 1,230 feet above sea level, and varieties are planted in many small micro-blocks, matching clonal selection, trellising, and irrigation to the soil itself. Grenache and Syrah are planted in the rocky shallow soil of the upper slope. Cabernet and Merlot excel in the lower blocks on deep, well-drained Warden soils. It’s a jigsaw puzzle, one that this team invested years of work into figuring out. To understand Force Majeure—the excellence and importance of their wines—is to understand the level of investment it took to bring this vision to life. This Syrah is grown in a combination of all eight soil types of the vineyard—mostly in the steepest and rockiest of the locations, with a few plantings in deeper, loamier soils. The backbone of the planting is fractured volcanic basalt. The vines are planted west/southwest facing, tightly spaced to provide shade. It’s a representation of the entire estate. 100% Syrah, 22% whole cluster, and fermented in a mixture of concrete and stainless, this Syrah is 100% free run juice and aged for roughly 18 months in 25% new French oak. The listed alcohol is 14.8%. The nose opens deeply with mineral-drenched black fruits, damp earth, smoked meat, florals, and dark chocolate. The palate has generous fruit impact and a seamless texture. Wines are sometimes described as having knees or elbows—this wine is the antithesis of that. It is round and smooth; balanced and effortless. Jeb Dunnuck: Copyrighted material withheld.