Looks like Force Majeure just went live releasing their 2015 Estate Rhone style wines. Has anyone tried them? Worth the $70 price tag for the Syrah and Parvata (Mourvèdre, Grenache & Syrah)?
Thanks
2015 Estate Parvata (Mourvèdre, Grenache & Syrah)
“It’s one of the best GSM blends coming out of Washington.” – Jeb Dunnuck
”PARVATA” (sanskrit for “Mountain”) is our Red Mountain southern Rhône-inspired blend, cultivated in blocks from the sandy soils of the central and lower sections of this vineyard. Driven by Mourvèdre, it was fermented after a long cold soak in concrete vats with native yeast. It underwent a gentle extraction before being barreled down to spend 18 months in 20% new French oak, utilizing mostly larger format puncheons. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Jeb Dunnuck calls this wine “One of the top GSMs in Washington state.”
“The Mourvèdre-dominated 2015 Parvata is jaw-dropping good, and lovers of top examples of Mourvèdre will need to latch onto bottles of this. Blackberries, currants, cured meats and hints of chocolate give way to a full-bodied, deep, layered and thrillingly textured red that has polished tannin and a big finish.” - (94-96) Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Winemaker Todd Alexander’s notes: The 2015 PARVATA has dark and brooding opening; dried black cherries, rhubarb, blackberry, coriander, white pepper and saddle leather, with notes of jasmine lifting the nose. The white pepper and spice notes develop further with more time in the glass. It’s soft, voluptuous and long on the palate, with perfectly balanced acidity and seamless transitions. It will drink well right away with some aeration, but keep and continue to evolve for 15+ years.
2015 Estate Syrah
“Is this the Sine Qua Non of Washington?” - Jeb Dunnuck
Our Red Mountain estate Syrah is grown predominantly at the top of our hillside vineyard, where it is steepest and rockiest. The vines must delve deep to gather moisture and nutrients, and the soil helps to create a powerful but elegant wine with good structure. There are a variety of Syrah clones and trellising methods employed. Fermentation took place after cold soak in both concrete and stainless steel vats, with some lots in the final blend seeing extended maceration and co-fermentation with Viognier grown on our site. Élevage was completed in a combination of new and used French oak for 18 months, after which the wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
“The 2015 is a big, full-bodied Syrah that has tons of chalky minerality in its classic Syrah notes of blackberries, licorice and smoked meats. With good acidity, fine tannin and terrific elegance and purity, it will keep for 15+ years.” - (93-96) Jeb Dunnuck, The Wine Advocate
Winemaker Todd Alexander’s notes:
The 2015 Red Mountain Estate Syrah has a seductive nose of dark red, blue and black fruits interwoven with black olives, smoked meats and dried herbs. It is constantly changing, and with a little time in the glass, it opens and begins to add high-toned, perfumed floral notes. It’s full-bodied and supple, with nicely polished tannin and a juicy character that has an appetizingly savory finish, which goes on and on. This will drink now with a decant, but will continue to develop in the bottle and keep for 20+ years.