Other labels Parabellum First vintage 2004 | Formerly Grand Reve Vintners Founded 2004 | |
Location Washington state / Red Mountain, WA, USA | ||
Force Majeure Vineyard is a Washington wine estate based in Woodinville, Washington, specializing in the growing and production of premium Cabernet Sauvignon wine as well as Bordeaux and Rhone-inspired blends. The brand was founded in 2004 (originally as "Grand Reve Vintners") by business entrepreneur Paul McBride and vineyard manager Ryan Johnson. Force Majeure also holds an estate vineyard within Washington’s famed Red Mountain AVA. The wines have received critical acclaim from influential wine critic Robert Parker's publication The Wine Advocate. Currently, Force Majeure holds the highest score ever given to a Washington Cabernet Sauvignon by the Wine Spectator (97 points).
In June 2014, winemaker Todd Alexander of famous Napa Valley cult winery Bryant Family Vineyard became the estate Winemaker for Force Majeure.
Vineyard
Force Majeure holds an estate vineyard in Washington state's Red Mountain AVA. The vineyard is 13 acres, with an additional 10 acres planted in 2015. Force Majeure Vineyard was the first hillside vineyard of its kind in Washington state. The hillside is steep, and rises in elevation from 950 to 1230 feet, on a piece of land that includes 9 distinct soil types. 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 Mourvedre. 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 (vineyard) 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."