Force Majeure was founded in 2004 by Paul McBride and made its name pairing some of Washington’s highly acclaimed winemakers with fruit from one of Washington’s highly acclaimed vineyards, Ciel du Cheval. The winemakers contributing to the “Collaboration Series” is a Who’s Who of Washington winemakers including Ben Smith, Carolyn Lakewold, Chris Gorman, James Mantone, Mark McNeilly and Mike McMorran. Todd Alexander, formerly of Bryant Family Vineyards, is the winemaker for the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah.
The CS III is 100% Syrah made by Mark McNeilly of Mark Ryan.
Dark ruby red in color. 14.5% ABV. Great nose of cool blue fruits, flowers and minerals. Rich, lush and hedonistic. Blueberries, blackberries, white pepper and grilled meats on the palate. Fresh and fun to drink. This wine is so consistently good. What a triumph! Drink over the next 3-5 years.
My rating: 94 points.
In just a few short years Force Majeure has become one of the top 5 Syrah producers in Washington. Look for the 2011 version that was released last year. $55 at the winery and retail.
Force Majeure warrants your attention and (as I write this) the winery is still accepting names for their mailing list.
In other news Force Majeure opened a new winery this past Fall. Located near the Woodinville Warehouse District, the winery is a huge step up from the previous facility. Concrete tanks, barrel storage and space for winemaker dinners were just a few of the highlights.
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