Forman / Rossi-Wallace - California
Influenced early on by the wines and winemaking practices of the Bordeaux region of France, Ric Forman has consistently sought a similar perfection for the wines of Forman Vineyard. If he had to choose two words which embody the character of Forman Vineyard wines they would be finesse and elegance.
As a sole proprietor, he has the luxury of personally nurturing the wines during every stage of production – from harvest, through blending, bottling and aging. In an age of anonymous ownership, this type of hands-on approach to winemaking is growing ever rarer. For him, it is the only way great wines can be crafted and made to share with an appreciative few.
Website: www.formanvineyard.com
The Wines
Cabernet
Made from a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with small percentages of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Merlot, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon comes across like a textbook Bordeaux, specifically a Graves. Elegant blueberry and raspberry fruit intermixed with charcoal and camphor are followed by a wine with a medium to fullbodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin and a long, luscious, expansive mid-palate and finish. It will be even better in 2-5 years, and will last for two decades.
Rossi-Wallace La Grande Roche
Chateau La Grande Roche is Forman Vineyards “de-classified” Estate cabernet. All is the same for both labels, i.e., the grapes are all hillside estate grown and all other cellar aspects are the same except the Grande Roche might not see as much new wood. The name Grande Roche refers to the fact that the winery is situated on Big Rock Road (in French, it is Grande Roche) and is surrounded by massive pink and grey boulders.