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 Sangiovese is 80% Sangiovese and 20% Barbera made by Carolyn Lakewold.
Violet in color. 13.6% ABV. Red fruits, plums, leather and Christmas spice on the nose. Medium body with light acidity. Ripe cherries, licorice, chalk and cranberries on the palate. Gritty tannins on a nice, long finish. Interesting wine that pushes the envelope of ripeness. Drink over the next 1-2 years.
My rating: 90 points.
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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