Benchmark Wines by
Forman Vineyard
The Winery
Forman Vineyard
Based in St. Helena, California, Forman Vineyards is an estate known for its Cabernet Sauvignon made by Ric Forman. Having previously worked at Sterling and Newton Vineyards, Forman began his own label in 1983 and now owns three vineyards. Although his winemaking philosophy follows more of a traditional approach, Ric is an advocate for the terroir in which he gets his grapes from.
The eight-acre Clos Vineyard below the winery has the deepest soil with granite and sand deposits, while the 20-acre block above the winery has more dense and rocky volcanic soil. Even further up the mountain in the Rutherford AVA, the third block has more pink gravel with ancient ash, and all of the soil types contribute to the complexity of the principal wine in the portfolio, Forman Vineyard Napa Cabernet Sauvignon. The wonderfully situated vineyards combined with his deliberate intervention make his wines a personal testament to producing quality wines from the Napa Valley.
Tasting Notes
- WS93
- An intense wine that weaves together a pretty array of ripe cherry, currant and spicy oak flavors, and adds a trim of earthy character. Very well focused, young and vibrant, but needs at least until 1999.
- WA91
- It seems like yesterday that Ric Forman began his career, yet he is now one of California's veteran wine-makers. From his early days (nearly 20 years ago) at Sterling he has built an impressive resume. The proprietor of beautiful vineyards tucked high in the hills between the Silverado Trail and Conn Valley, he has launched a new wine, a Merlot from a vineyard called Thorvilos, that he developed along with the well-known viticulturist, David Abreu. The 1995, which had just finished malolactic fermentation, blew me away, but the wine will not be in the marketplace for several years. The 1992 Cabernet Sauvignon is beginning to shut down and reveal more tannin. Some of the baby fat and thickness have taken a back seat to the wine's more structured aspects. Rich and full-bodied, it is less flattering and showy than when I first tasted it. It possesses outstanding concentration, as well as the potential for 20+ years of evolution.
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