2011 Force Majeure Collaboration Series I Ciel du Cheval Vineyard
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Tasting notes
(a Bordeaux blend based on 65% Cabernet Sauvignon; 62% new oak; made by Ben Smith of Cadence): Saturated dark red. Brooding aromas of black fruits, dark chocolate and licorice show a medicinal reserve. Suave and penetrating in the mouth, offering a fine-grained texture and an attractive restrained sweetness to the dark fruit and milk chocolate flavors. Finishes savory and long, with building ripe tannins. This should evolve gracefully in bottle.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Made by Ben Smith, the 2011 Collaboration Series I is pure elegance in a glass. Offering up notions of creme de cassis, violets, sappy green herbs, mint and assorted wild flower like qualities, this beauty flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, integrated acidity and fine tannin that frame the finish beautifully. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and then 12% each of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot, aged 28 months in 70% new French oak, it needs another year or two in the cellar, and will evolve gracefully for 15 years or more. One of my favorite estates in Washington, Force Majeure is run by Paul McBride and vineyard manager Ryan Johnson. The focus here is always Red Mountain fruit, with grapes pulled mostly from the creme de la creme Ciel du Cheval vineyard, and increasingly from their estate Force Majeure Vineyard as more and more plots come online. Each cuvee is made by a different winemaker, and they’re allowed a relatively free hand with regards to pick dates and vinification. The result is a myriad of styles, yet the purity of the fruit from these two great sites is always present. Looking at the different cuvees, their Collaboration Series I is their Bordeaux styled- blend and is made by Ben Smith. The Collaboration II (which I tasted out of barrel in 2011 but neither it nor the 2012 were presented for this report) is a Syrah and Viognier blend that’s made by Ross Michel. The Collaboration III is a 100% Syrah that’s made by Mike MacMorran with the goal to highlight Washington State Syrah, namely Red Mountain. Their Merlot-dominated wine is the Collaboration IV, and it’s made by Carolyn Lakewold of Donedi Wine. Their 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is the Collaboration V and is made by Chris Gorman (Gorman Winery). And lastly, the Collaboration Series VI is their Rhone-styled release made by James Mantone of Syncline. In addition, they do a number of new estate release, and reserve wines as well. I believe the winemaker for these efforts is Mike MacMorran. The estate’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon release is the Collaboration V and is made by Chris Gorman, of Gorman Winery. It’s always made in a rich, full-throttle style, yet is never over-the- top. www.forcemajeurevineyards.com