Force Majeure Vineyards

Force Majeure is a Washington/Oregon wine estate, specializing in the growing and production of premium Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon as well as other Bordeaux and Rhone-inspired blends. The brand was founded in 2004 (originally as "Grand Reve Vintners"), and beginning with that vintage Force Majeure began the "Collaboration Series" of wines made by some of Washington's top winemakers, using fruit from Red Mountain's Ciel du Cheval vineyard, garnering much critical acclaim and attention for the brand.

Force Majeure Winery
Force Majeure wines
LocationWashington/Oregon, USA
AppellationRed Mountain AVA / Walla Walla Valley AVA
FormerlyGrand Reve Vintners
Other labelsParabellum
Founded2004[1]
First vintage2004[1]
Key peoplePaul McBride, Founder & Proprietor
Ryan Johnson, Co-Founder
Dick Boushey, Vineyard Manager
Todd Alexander, Winemaker
Helen Keplinger, Consultant
Cases/yr< 3,000
Known forSyrah, Parvata, Cabernet Sauvignon, Épinette
VarietalsCabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Petit Verdot, Cinsault, Counoise
DistributionLimited
TastingNot available for tastings
Websitewww.fm-wine.com

Force Majeure wines have received critical acclaim from influential wine critic Robert Parker's publication The Wine Advocate. Currently, Force Majeure holds the highest score ever given to a Washington Cabernet Sauvignon by the Wine Spectator (97 points).[2]

Force Majeure purchased land for an estate vineyard within Washington's famed Red Mountain AVA, and initially developed the site in 2006–2007. In June 2014, winemaker Todd Alexander of famous Napa Valley cult winery Bryant Family Vineyard became the estate Winemaker for Force Majeure, as they discontinued the Collaboration Series to focus on the estate vineyard and winemaking.[3] Additionally, famous Napa winemaker Helen Keplinger works as a consultant for Force Majeure.

Vineyards

Force Majeure holds a 40-acre site in Washington state's Red Mountain AVA, about half of which is planted to vines. Development started in 2006, and is ongoing. Force Majeure's Red Mountain vineyard was the first hillside vineyard of its kind in Washington state, planted with gobelet-trained Syrah as found in the northern Rhône. The hillside is steep, and rises in elevation from 950 to 1230 feet, on a piece of land that includes 9 distinct soil types due in part to the Missoula Floods. The soils are diverse and well drained, ranging from deep Warden to very rocky Kiona soils. Calcium carbonate, a chief component of limestone, is present in much of the vineyard. Varietals grown include Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault, Counoise and Mourvèdre. Due to the diversity of the soils in the vineyard, vine aspect, exposure and other factors, Force Majeure employs a diverse set of vine training systems, varietals and clonal selections.

The hillside vineyard faces southwest and receives excellent afternoon sun exposure for ripening. The Washington Wine Report has called Force Majeure Vineyard one of Washington's "most compelling (vineyard) sites",[4] and Jeb Dunnuck of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has named it as "one of the top estates in Washington."[5]Harvey Steiman of Wine Spectator magazine has written that Force Majeure has "established itself in the top tier of Washington wineries." [6]

Production

Current wines in the estate lineup include:
Parvata – a Mourvèdre-dominant Rhône varietal blend
Syrah
Cabernet Sauvignon
Épinette – a blend of predominantly Merlot and Cabernet Franc
Viognier

References
  1. Force Majeure "Grand Reve Vintners - Winery Profile" Archived 2014-06-06 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved Feb. 28, 2014.
  2. Force, Majeure. "2007 Collaboration Series Cabernet Sauvignon". Retrieved 2014-01-25.
  3. Wine Business Monthly. "Force Majeure Vineyards Announces the Signing of Winemaker Todd Alexander".
  4. Sean, Sullivan. "Washington Wine Report". Retrieved 2014-02-20.
  5. Dunnuck, Jeb. "Robert Parker's Wine Advocate". Retrieved 2015-06-30.
  6. Steiman, Harvey. "Wine Spectator magazine". Retrieved 2015-08-30.
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