2018 Forman Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

At Forman, every step of the production process is in the hands of one man: Ric Forman. The vineyard is located on a ridge at the foot of Howell mountain overlooking the city of St Helena. The area is divided into four parcels on which the grape varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot grow. Forman Vineyard was founded in 1983 and produced a small amount of classically made Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.

After a three-year search in the Napa Valley for the perfect location, Rik Forman purchased the current winery/vineyard in 1978, which sits on a ridge at the base of Howell Mountain overlooking the city of St. Helena. This remarkable location has produced some unusually elegant wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. A philosophy of winemaking that takes a traditional rather than technological approach appealed to Forman early in his career. The familiarity with European tradition has greatly influenced his style.

Grapes are handled gently from harvest to fermentation. Small stainless steel fermenters for red wines and new Burgundy barrels for white wines are used. Deep caves have been built that provide a cool, dark and humid environment to allow red wine to mature in peace in new French oak barrels. The wines literally mature in the soil from which they grew. The integration of the small stone cellar located in the hills surrounded by a courtyard and contact with the deep caves below gives it an authentic atmosphere.

Although the main part consists of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine also contains 5% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, so this is clearly the Bordeaux from Napa Valley. The wine has aged for 22 months on 75% new and 25% two-year-old Bordeaux barrels. This is an exceptionally beautiful wine from a classic vintage. Layer after layer, the wine opens up with aeration. Aromas of tobacco and ripe berry jam blend so beautifully with a subtle vanilla smoky oak background. The multi-faceted aromas are reflected in the taste and are surrounded by a mouth-filling richness of ultra-fine and ripe phenolics with a wonderfully bold finish. It's hard not to love this great wine.