Winemaker Notes
PARVATA (sanskrit for “Mountain”) is Force Majeure's Red Mountain southern Rhône-inspired blend, cultivated in blocks from the sandy soils of the middle and lower sections of this vineyard. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Blend: 69% Mourvedre, 21% Syrah, 10% Grenache
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
There are only 325 cases of the 2016 Parvata, a blend of 69% Mourvèdre, 21% Syrah, and 10% Grenache brought up in 30% new, mostly larger barrels. Deep ruby-colored, with a beautiful bouquet of black raspberries, white pepper, spiced meats, and graphite, this hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and beautiful length.
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Wine Spectator
With a brooding yet polished demeanor, this red builds richness as it goes, offering blackberry, cured meat, loamy mineral and pepper flavors that end with big yet refined tannins. Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache. Best from 2020 through 2026.
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James Suckling
Aromas of deep red and dark plums, chocolate and dark cherries lead to a palate that has bright, pure and fresh fruit appeal. The tannins are polished and the spicy, supple fruit cascades through the finish. A blend of mourvedre, syrah and grenache. Drink over the next six years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 69% Mourvèdre, 21% Syrah and 10% Grenache, the 2016 Parvata displays a clean core of fruit on the nose, with black raspberries and wild cherry with a dusty minerality wafting from the glass along with purple flowers and steak au poivre. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is fresh and pure, with a mineral dustiness and a balanced tannic structure that adds to the complexity of the mouthfeel. The wine is focused and displays a delightful expression on the thoughtful, lingering finish. Only 470 cases were made.
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Wine Enthusiast
A blend of 69% Mourvèdre, 21% Syrah and 10% Grenache, raspberry jam, herb, white pepper and citrus peel aromas vie for attention. Ripe, full-bodied fruit and coffee flavors follow, with a lingering finish capping it off. It shows depth and intensity, with the tannins bringing a slightly dry grip that smooths out with significant time open. Best after 2023 with an extremely long life ahead of it.
Cellar Selection
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.