ThatFrenchieGuy
Member #926,708 signed up 8/14/2023 and last accessed 4/27/2024
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2017 E. Guigal Châteauneuf-du-Pape
4/17/2024 - ThatFrenchieGuy wrote: 88 Points
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2018 Force Majeure Syrah Force Majeure Vineyard Red Mountain
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/
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2012 Heitz Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon Martha's Vineyard
3/13/2024 - ThatFrenchieGuy Likes this wine: 96 Points
What is it: There is no one "Greatest" Napa wine, but any list of the top 25 wines in Napa will likely have Heitz Martha's Vineyard on it. This is a single vineyard from the Oakville bench. Supposedly a distinct clone of Cab, aged in 100% new French oak for 3 years. Much like every Heitz wine, the wine sees substantial age before release with this particular bottle releasing in late 2016
Price Paid: $200 (local grocery store had a case on clearance and I bought the 2 I could afford from the case)
Nose: Profound and herbal. Eucalyptus, mint, rosemary, thyme, crunchy red fruit, then when swirled a broad swathe of blue and fresh black fruit.
Palate: Crystal clear bing cherry, blueberry, black raspberry, all manner of savory and cool herbs, gravel, and a sort of dusty-earthy thing going on right at the end. Acid is in fantastic balance and tannin is integrated enough to be very enjoyable right out of the bottle Coravin.
Takeaway: This is maybe my first time drinking a legend. This is maybe a little too lean for my preference in Napa, but it stands toe to toe with Ridge Monte Bello for great California cabs, and I think this would be the perfect bridge from someone who's a huge Bordeaux junkie to enter into top-end Napa. 5/5
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