This Spanish Rioja is just as good as the CADE cab I just had and is less than half the price, therefore it gets a perfect score. The difference is the rioja is a tad bit sweeter in the beginning and possesses less tannins in the finish. It also has a little more buttery middle. Everything else is almost identical!!! - Dr Todd Vineyards and Herron Family Wines — 5 years ago
Deep and dark purplish red with a blueish few. Completely coats the glass. Dark nose with purple florals, perfume, minerality, iron, and dark raspberries. Medium plus tannins (6.5/10) and full bodied. Nice layers of pepper, rich dark cocoa, dusty, dark berries and tons of finesse. A little dry with a long and lingering finish. Will definitely benefit from a year or two in bottle. Drink from 2019 till 2029. (93+)
This is the second vintage of Force Majeure's Parvata, a Mourvèdre-Syrah-Grenache blend made from estate fruit. The name of this bottling, Parvata, means "Mountain" in sanskrit (a Hindi dialect) pulling in all the greatness that can come from mountain Rhone varietals. At the moment the first two bottlings have been Mourvèdre led but according to Todd Alexander, the winemaker, this can always change depending on how some of their other vines on the estate develop. Made up of 46% Mourvèdre, 34% Syrah and 20% Grenache. Also aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak barrles. Only 300 cases produced. This is definitely a wine to keep your eye out for.
Sample provided by the estate. Released today for $70.00. — 7 years ago
2018 much more minerality on the nose! Not what Zin reminds you of. Red cherries blackberry black pepper spices licorice medium acidity long spicy finish moderate body dark. notes from visit to the winery.
Alexander Valley. Bright red volcanic soils, steep rocky slopes and western exposure. — 2 years ago
Plan is to drink a bunch of Beaujolais for the holidays after a fun visit with @Todd Abrams at Elie Wine. This is number one. Lavender smoke and oh so good. 🤓 — 5 years ago
Steve enjoyed this 2017 release.
— 6 years ago
Still my favorite Chardonnay! I prefer it over all others and compare all others to Frank Family Chardonnay! Todd Graff, winemaker is an artist - from Chardonnay to Cabernet, Petit Sirah to Sangiovese. Crisp, citrus, delightful. — 4 years ago
This is now the second time in the past year that I have tried the absolutely massive 2016 Force Majeure Syrah, a dazzling, dense and hedonistic Red Mountain Syrah carefully crafted by the talented Todd Alexander. Roughly 20% of this wine underwent while cluster fermentation. The Syrah was aged in 25% new oak for 18 months prior to bottling. The nose shows wonderful dark fruits with smoky character, sage, dark chocolate, and damp earth. The palate is exceedingly refined. Black tea, black forest cake, cigar ash and smoked brisket flavors with citrus rind undertones that all marvelously combine. There is a seamless quality to this wine that glides across the mid-palate. Seductive and rich, yet maintaining a wonderful elegance and an intriguing salinity, this is a simply tremendous bottling by Force Majeure. A year ago when I had this wine I mentioned that this might be the best Red Mountain Syrah I have ever tasted. On second glance, my first impression was correct. Drink 2020-2035- 95 — 5 years ago
The new new Dakota Shy Cab and Childish Gambino a la @Anthony Lombardi ...as Todd says, it’s “headbanger boogie good!” — 6 years ago
Lori K
Todd really likes, great vanilla and current blend, good mouth feel — a year ago