2020 Force Majeure, Parabellum Alluvio, $58

Background: Force Majeure is an ultra-premium winery based in Woodinville specializing in estate-grown, single-vineyard Bordeaux- and Rhône-inspired wines.    

Todd Alexander, former winemaker at Napa’s highly-acclaimed Bryant Family Vineyard, joined as winemaker in 2014, bringing a passion for crafting terroir-driven wines that showcase the unique characteristics of specific sites. The Parabellum wines function as an entry-level line of Force Majeure. They are produced from estate fruit and receive the same care and attention as the upper-tier wines from the estate, but are made to be ready to drink sooner than those more ageworthy offerings, and are a great value

Wine details: 42% Cab Sauv, 31% Merlot, 22% Cab Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot. Sourced from Force Majeure’s estate vineyards on Red Mountain and in the Walla Walla Valley. Fermented in stainless steel, and aged 18 months in 20% new, large format French oak. They produced 375 cases of this wine.

Flavor profile: This vintage of Alluvio is smooth and seamless, with complex aromas and flavors of dark currants, cocoa, red and blue fruits, and savory herbs. Refined, elegant, and silky textured, it’s a stunning wine.

Recommendation: While it is drinking beautifully now, it will continue to develop over the next eight to ten years. It is a great match for red meat dishes or French bistro fare, such as pork rillettes or French onion soup.

2020 Pursued by Bear, Bear Cub, $35

Background: Pursued by Bear is based in Walla Walla and owned by actor and Washington native Kyle MacLachlan who grew up in rural Yakima, “picking apples, canning peaches, and fishing the Yakima and Naches Rivers.” The winery is named for the well-known stage direction in Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale: “Exit, pursued by a bear.” Dan Wampfler has been making the wines since 2008, when he was still winemaker at Dunham Cellars. Today he is head winemaker and general manager at Abeja Winery and works with growers and manages all aspects of winemaking for both Abeja and Pursued by Bear. Dan and Kyle say that “the Bear” embodies the similarities between the crafts of acting and winemaking: “Both call for careful study, intensive work behind the scenes, and a little bit of magic.”

Wine details: 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, aged 20 months in 100% French oak. Sourced from Weinbau (Wahluke Slope), Dionysus (White Bluffs), and DuBrul (Yakima Valley) vineyards

Flavor profile: Blending fruit from three distinct AVAs adds complexity to this dark, rich, silky smooth wine. It is very expressive, with inviting aromas and concentrated flavors of black currant, plum, and cocoa, with subtle and well-integrated notes of oak.

Recommendation: Enjoy now, or over the next year or two. Enjoy it with braised short ribs, grilled burgers, or whatever you like to enjoy delicious Cabernet with.