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, 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 wines have received critical acclaim from influential wine criticRobert Parker's publication The Wine Advocate. Currently, Force Majeure holds the highest score ever given to a Washington Cabernet Sauvignon by the Wine Spectator. 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. 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 sites", and Jeb Dunnuck of Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has named it as "one of the top estates in Washington."Harvey Steiman of Wine Spectator magazine has written that Force Majeure has "established itself in the top tier of Washington wineries."
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
