PDF 
Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Force Majeure Vineyards
United States - Washington - Red Mountain

The estate Cabernet Sauvignon is grown primarily along the southwest ridge of the vineyard. The vines produce small berries with bountiful flavor, concentration and intensity, but also a good degree of finesse, excellent structure and layers of complexity that will continue to develop during extended bottle aging for those who want to cellar and age their wines. The wine is powerful, elegant, full-bodied.

Specifications
Appellation
Red Mountain
Wine Type
Red
Varietal(s)
96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot
Age of vines
11 years old
Soil type
Deep and loamy but contain many small rocks of fractured basalt, concreted ash and granite from Missoula flood erratics.
Vinification
Fermented in concrete and stainless closed top tanks
Aged in 75% new French oak
Red Mountain AVA
100% free run
Production
650 (9-liter cases)

Reviews and News

2019 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 98+ PTS - JD

2019 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 98+ PTS - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"Another gem is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate, a deep, concentrated, powerful Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that I suspect will be up there with the legendary wines from this terroir. Beautiful cassis, graphite, lead pencil shavings, and damp earth notes give way to a full-bodied effort that has a liqueur of rocks-like minerality, flawless balance, building yet polished tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years, and it will evolve for 25-30 years if properly stored."

- Jeb Dunnuck (July 2022), 98+ pts

2019 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 PTS - Editors' Choice - WE

2019 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 PTS - Editors' Choice - WE

wine enthusiast 95 pts"Blackberry, crushed rock, black cherry and spice aromas lead to ripe, intense, seamless, balanced dark-fruit flavors. The tannins give a firm grip. An extended finish caps it off. It's glorious. - SEAN P. SULLIVAN"

- Wine Enthusiast (November 2022), 95 pts - Editors' Choice

2019 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 94 PTS - WS

2019 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 94 PTS - WS

wine spectator 94 pts"A gutsy red that retains a sense of style and polish, with expressive blackberry, espresso and toasty spice flavors that build structure toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2030. —Tim FISH."

- Wine Spectator (Insider, January 4th 2023), 94 pts

2018 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 99 PTS - Decanter

2018 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 99 PTS - Decanter

decanter logo 250"One of the wines of the vintage. Comprised of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon, with small parts Merlot and Petit Verdot, this saw 80% new French oak prior to bottling. The nose is downright intoxicating with crème de cassis, anise, blueberry compote and sandalwood tones that all meld in the glass. The palate is rich and seductive, with not only beautiful concentration but a seamless texture and downright brilliant length. Rich crème de violette, sagebrush, blackberry cordial and mocha flavours provide plenty of exotic appeal."

- Decanter (April 2021), 99 pts

2018 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 97+ PTS - JD

2018 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 97+ PTS - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is much more dense, tannic, backward wine compared to the Walla Walla Estate release. Its deep purple/plum color is followed by a masculine bouquet of crushed rocks, tobacco, iodine, and lead pencil. This carries to a full-bodied Red Mountain Cabernet with gorgeous overall balance, ripe yet building tannins, an undeniable sense of minerality, and a blockbuster finish. Possessing a liquid rock-like minerality (it seems to have been filtered through a bed of rocks), it's mostly educational at this young age and deserves 4-5 years of bottle age. It should keep for 2-3 decades in cold cellars."

- Jeb Dunnuck (May 2021), 97+ pts

2018 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 PTS - WS

2018 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 95 PTS - WS

wine spectator 95 pts"Impressive for its richness and deep structure, this red screams Red Mountain, offering compelling blackberry, crushed rock and espresso tones that build tension toward firm tannins. Best from 2022 through 2031. 500 cases made. - TF"

- Wine Spectator (October 2021), 95 pts

2017 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 95+ PTS - JD

2017 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 95+ PTS - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is another powerful wine from this team. Opulent notes of blackcurrants, graphite, chocolate, crushed rocks, wild herbs, and espresso all give way to a full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that has loads of fruit, a superstar of a mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s another 2017 that’s going to benefit from at least 2-4 years of bottle age and have 20 years or more of longevity."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2020), 95+ pts

2017 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 93 PTS - WS

2017 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 93 PTS - WS

wine spectator 93 pts"Opens with a burst of rich black raspberry and smoky pepper flavors, building tension and structure toward muscular, mineral-tinged tannins. Best from 2022 through 2030. —Tim FISH"

- Wine Spectator's Insider (June 10th 2020), 93 pts

2017 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 92+ PTS - VINOUS

2017 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 92+ PTS - VINOUS

vinous logo"Bright full ruby. Musky, very ripe scents of black cherry, blackberry, blueberry and licorice--not quite port-like but less nuanced than the Epinette blend. Wonderfully glossy, rich and suave in the middle palate, with very ripe, deep dark berry and milk chocolate flavors accented by menthol and herbs. The wine's superripeness, fatness and underlying herbal and mineral notes should come into greater harmony with another few years of bottle aging bottle; today the Epinette blend is easier to drink. - Stephen Tanzer"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (December 2019), 92+ pts

2016 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 99 pts - JD

2016 Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - 99 pts - JD

jeb dunnuck logo 250"The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Mountain Estate is a thrilling effort from winemaker Todd Alexander that rates with some of the most monumental wines to come out of Washington State. Based on 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from their estate vineyard on Red Mountain, brought up in mostly new barrels, it reveals a saturated purple color that's followed by a rich, primordial bouquet of crème de cassis, espresso roast, crushed rock, and graphite. It needs considerable air to start to show its potential yet is a full-bodied, powerful wine that has subtle oak, plenty of sweet tannins, and a huge, layered finish that won't quit. It's the tannin management that's truly spectacular. This brilliant wine needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will keep for 2-3 decades."
- Jeb Dunnuck (April 2019), 99 pts

Go to Force Majeure Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer Information: Force Majeure Vineyards

Force Majeure is an ultra-premium winery located in the Walla Walla Valley, specializing in estate-grown, single-vineyard Bordeaux and Rhône-inspired wines. Their wines are meticulously crafted by former Bryant Family Vineyard ...
Read More