Force Majeure Epinette 2016

  • 92 Robert
    Parker
2020 Vintage In Stock
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Force Majeure Epinette 2016  Front Bottle Shot
Force Majeure Epinette 2016  Front Bottle Shot Force Majeure Epinette 2016  Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2016

Size
750ML

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

Professional Ratings

  • 92

    Made entirely from free-run juice, the 2016 Épinette is a blend of 46% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. The nose wafts with elegant red and black fruit that is ripe and seductive. Black raspberries and chocolate-covered berries spin out of the glass with soft herbal tones and supporting oak essence. Medium to full-bodied on the palate and framed by the 65% new French oak, the lush fruit tones are well-balanced and not overdone. The wine lingers long on the finish with a steady expression and focused aftertaste. Only 300 cases made.

Other Vintages

2020
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
2019
  • 97 Jeb
    Dunnuck
2018
  • 97 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 94 Robert
    Parker
2017
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 95 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
2015
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 94 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
Force Majeure

Force Majeure

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Force Majeure, Washington
Force Majeure Winery Image
It is both passion and obsessive attention to detail that push Force Majeure to raise the standard for Washington winegrowing. Inspired by the vineyards of Bordeaux, Hermitage, Priorat, and Cote Rotie, we challenged existing viticultural practices and embarked on an ambitious plan to pioneer the very first vineyard on the steep, upper slopes of Red Mountain.

This Herculean effort involved the careful matching of varietal and clonal selections, trellising and irrigation to the nine distinct soil types formed by the ancient Missoula floods, winds and volcanic activity. The outcome is a vineyard articulated into many small "micro-blocks," to meet the management demands of this unique and dynamic site. Due to the rough, rocky nature of the acreage and elevations ranging from 960 to 1,230 feet, mechanization is virtually impossible in the upper portion of Force Majeure, requiring true "farming by hand." Yet the lower blocks of the vineyard are comprised of deep, well-drained Warden soils.

Thus, the diversity of our vineyard results in a versatility that allows us to grow a variety of compelling fruit characterized by stunning intensity, depth and concentration, complex flavors and fine tannins. We nurture a variety of Bordeaux and Rhone varietals at this special site and look forward to sharing, quite literally, the "fruits of our labor" with you.

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One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.

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Red Mountain Wine

Yakima Valley, Washington

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A coveted source of top quality red grapes among premier Washington producers, the Red Mountain AVA is actually the smallest appellation in the state. As its name might suggest, it is actually neither a mountain nor is it composed of red earth. Instead the appellation is an anticline of the Yakima fold belt, a series of geologic folds that define a number of viticultural regions in the surrounding area. It is on the eastern edge of Yakima Valley with slopes facing southwest towards the Yakima River, ideal for the ripening of grapes. The area’s springtime proliferation of cheatgrass, which has a reddish color, actually gives the area the name, "Red" Mountain.

Red Mountain produces some of the most mineral-driven, tannic and age-worthy red wines of Washington and there are a few reasons for this. It is just about the hottest appellation with normal growing season temperatures commonly reaching above 90F. The soil is particularly poor in nutrients and has a high pH, which results in significantly smaller berry sizes compared to varietal norms. The low juice to skin ratio in smaller berries combined with the strong, dry summer winds, leads to higher tannin levels in Red Mountain grapes.

The most common red grape varieties here are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, among others. Limited white varieties are grown, namely Sauvignon blanc.

The reds of the area tend to express dark black and blue fruit, deep concentration, complex textures, high levels of tannins and as previously noted, have good aging capabilities.

AUT16FMEPINETTE_2016 Item# 562112

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