2018 Parabellum Coulée - Force Majeure

Smoky dark plum, green peppercorn, fresh fig. Roasted huckleberry, ground marjoram, black currant compote. Ferociously opaque and inky impressions of toasted blackberry, black forest cherry, and Medjool date thrash about with incredible concentration while notes of anise, wisteria, and dark roast coffee elaborately complicate the powerful display. Pronounced hints of pine nut, white sage, and olive tapenade emerge to reveal radiant natural charms while bursts of cardamom, clove, and thyme expose deeply-spiced herbal complexity. Beguiling wafts of lavender oil and violent essence gently glide over the scene in a melody of succulent floral tones that play in tune with more savory notions of brisket crust and slow cooked red meat. A decadent streak of baking chocolate and hazelnut attempts to impart a polished sheen on the rugged and brawny presentation but is offset by smoky blasts of charcoal, basalt, and ash. Unquestionably rich, viscous, and seductive on the palate while remaining flawlessly balanced and integrated; exhibiting surprisingly expressive aromatics atop a bold and brash yet remarkably serious core. Full bodied with elevated tannin backed by wonderfully bright acidity. This 2018 Parabellum Coulée by Force Majeure is a delightfully amplified, intense, and extracted red from Washington's Columbia Valley. 

Located within eastern Washington and parts of northeastern Oregon in the heart of America's Pacific Northwest, the Columbia Valley is a large viticultural area that is home to a diverse and eclectic range of wine production. This bottling, crafted by Force Majeure using 90% Syrah/10% Mourvèdre source from vineyards in the Columbia Valley, showcases the immense power and concentration this unique growing zone is capable of facilitating. Made in an unapologetically dense yet extraordinarily serious style, this wine erupts from the glass with rich and extracted fruit enhanced by a cornucopia of smoky, meaty, and savory tones. It is loud and powerful yet not the least bit abrasive, somehow managing to marry incredible intensity with elegance and finesse. Outstanding.