Having trouble finding words, other than damn fine. The description that I like best comes from Dunnick: Possessing sensational purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges and an elegant, ethereal style, it's not for those looking for huge aromas and flavors yet is world-class nonetheless. Yah, I like it!
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Consistent with prior notes. Paired this one up with a 2016 Saxum Bone Rock and it definitely held its own! Great wine, in a great place. Drink now - 2031+.
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(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.
NOTE: Some content is property of JamesSuckling.com and JebDunnuck.com and Vinous and Full Pull.
3/17/2024 - Cablover1982 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This FM Syrah was firing. Ripe roasted black fruits, pepper and smoke. Nice acidity , ripe tannins. Great mouthfeel and texture. This was money.
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11/11/2023 - PghMike Likes this wine: 94 Points
Smoky, spicy, meaty and black cherry. Tannins are fine but present. Moderate acidity. Very nice. Drank at a dinner so short note.
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11/6/2023 - Pedroel Likes this wine: 94 Points
Having trouble finding words, other than damn fine. The description that I like best comes from Dunnick: Possessing sensational purity of fruit, ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges and an elegant, ethereal style, it's not for those looking for huge aromas and flavors yet is world-class nonetheless. Yah, I like it!
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8/12/2023 - RPerro Likes this wine: 94 Points
Consistent with prior notes. Paired this one up with a 2016 Saxum Bone Rock and it definitely held its own! Great wine, in a great place. Drink now - 2031+.
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6/24/2023 - PinotPaul Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wonderful. Very smooth. Good fruit.
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