Force Majeure Syrah Red Mountain Washington, 2016, 750
Force Majeure Syrah Red Mountain Washington, 2016, 750
97 points Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2016 Syrah Estate checks in as 100% Syrah that saw a small amount of stems. It spent 18 months in 25% new French oak. Deeply colored, it displays a thrilling bouquet of smoked black fruits, violets, smoked meats, charcoal, and graphite. Deep, rich, incredibly fleshy and flamboyant, with perfect balance, it's a serious, world-class Syrah that will keep for 10-15 years."
92-95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Tasted from barrel, the 2016 Estate Syrah reveals a decadent nose of ripe blackberries, lilac, licorice and some smoky new oak. On the palate, it's full-bodied, rich and layered, with a broad, expansive profile. (WK) 92-95+ "
92 points Vinous
"(the pH of 3.8 pH is lower than that of the 2015; vinified in concrete and stainless steel with a percentage of whole clusters, then aged in larger-format French barrels, 25% of them new): Saturated bright medium ruby. More savory and herbal on the nose than the 2015 version, showing less gamey funk and more blueberry and menthol. Fruitier in the mid-palate than the '15, conveying good sappy depth to its dark berry and mocha flavors. This very fresh, well-delineated wine delivers noteworthy intensity without weight, and its rising finish features serious but fine-grained tannins that are surprisingly edge-free and approachable in the early going. Still, the wine's purity and its finishing note of iodiney minerality suggest that it will reward mid-term cellaring. In fact, I would not be a bit surprised if this wine shut down in the bottle soon. (ST) 92+"
