2003 Forman Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L)
SKU #1146029
91 points
Int'l Wine Cellar
Bright ruby-red. Very ripe nose shows an almost Margaux-like floral lift to its aromas of boysenberry, licorice and mint. Sweet and elegantly styled, with very suave, nicely delineated flavors of boysenberry, blackberry and violet. Finishes with broad, fine tannins and lovely juicy persistence. Less dense and perhaps lower in extract than the 2004 but brighter and more ethereal. This may well merit an even higher score with three to five years of additional bottle aging.
(6/2006)
90 points
Wine Advocate
The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon is uncommonly approachable. Its dark ruby color is accompanied by sweet aromas of plums, black cherries, and currants. With soft, silky tannin, medium body, and a Bordeaux-like weight, this Cabernet was clearly inspired by Bordeaux clarets. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.
(12/2005)
Connoisseurs Guide
*One star* Once past a fleeting note of earth in the nose, this firmly built, medium-full-bodied youngster shows off a good bit of curranty fruit with supportive oak and subtle highlights of mint. It steers comfortably clear of excess, be it ripeness, tannin or heat, and its impressions of trim balance and overall integration make it approachable now while at the same time suggesting that it will age gracefully for several years.
(8/2006)
K&L Notes
Ric Forman is one of the living legends of California winemaking. With a history at Sterling, Newton, Duckhorn, Abreu and of course Forman Vineyards. There are few other winemakers who can claim such influence in the very formation of the wine industry in Napa.