Cf our notes from 2016, age has set in a bit. Tannins have softened, acidity more prominent, fruit slightly drying, alcohol more noticeable, a bit less complexity. Still a great wine, but we'd drink any remaining bottles soon.
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Still flashing that brett I noted over a decade ago. It takes about 30 minutes for the fruit to awaken and push it back into the background. Powerful cherry buttressed cedar. A touch smoky and sweaty. Rich and silky palate. Ample tannin and acid. Just really all in place. Not so red fruited like a valley floor wine. Darker and more intriguing. Overnight the palate loses a lot of the richness leaving the tannin astringent without its counterweight. That would seem to indicate this is not far from tertiary land. Terrific now though. If you like modern "Napa Cab" you'll hate this. Terrific.
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Deep, dark reddish-purple garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with classic cigar box overtones of cedar & tobacco, leather, some herbal notes, mint, anise, earthy/dusty, coffee/cocoa, minerals, spices & a hint of vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & silky smooth textured, plush, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with cocoa, herbs, minerals, spices & a hint of vanilla in the background. Long lingering elegant finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but even at 20 years of age, it should hold at its present plateau of development for several years longer if cellared properly although any further development may be nominal.
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The 1999 Forman Cabernet was poured alongside the 1999 Pride Reserve Cabernet and was the unanimous winner. Black cherries, currants, licorice, leather, tobacco, and graphite in the nose with a hint of floral. Blackberries, currants, and chocolate in the flavor. Showing beautifully right now, this was an elegant Cabernet with medium to full body, nice complexity, and a long finish. Delicious! 94-95
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This was not what I expected. It was opened decanted and served with a dry aged strip loin and peppercorn sauce. The wine showed great color with fine clarity. On the palate the fruit was of a red nature and initially muted. If I had not known I may have guessed it was from the left bank and Bordeaux not Cali Cab. There is still lots of tannin holding onto the fruit with few of the secondary characters I would have expected from 18 y/o Cali Cab. I have a few more bottles I will let evolve
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Deep dark red, edge still red. Nice robes. Lovely Bx nose w cedar, leather, roasted oak, whiff of strawberries. Elegant! Very well integrated in mouth w plenty fruit (plums), nice acidity, still prominent tannins. Long aftertaste w complexity, excellent balance, some alcohol. Will easily last 6 - 9 years more. A top class Napa Bordeaux!
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Strong medium-dark ruby. Legs still good. Classic aged cab nose: cassis, leather, cedar. Dead ringer for a good cab; unmistakeable. Smooth and rich on entry in the mouth, full, rich flavor. Great dollop of fruit. Plum. This ha aged beautifully and should last many more years. No signs of decline at all. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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Inhaled and thought, "Wow...that nose is a dead ringer for a Left Bank Bordeaux." Had to grin when I read the WS review just now, which opens, "A dead ringer for a Bordeaux..." Wonderful, youthful wine with rich fruits and great complexity on both the nose and palate. Really a treat.
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Opened another to see if last one was typical of remaining bottles. What a difference! This bottle reflects what I expect from a Forman cabernet. Lovely mature cabernet flavors with balance and finesse. No hurry to drink the remaining bottles in my cellar.
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Older Napa Cabs at Vin, Vino, Wine: This is all about sweet tobacco, with some nice black fruit playing a more supporting role, and hints of earth and sweet oak making an appearance as well. There's a fair amount of tannin but it's chewy and fuzzy rather than harsh and drying. Drinking this feels like settling down with a pipe in an overstuffed armchair. Really good.
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Wow, this is great with intense dark fruit. Rich deep nose with cedar and forest and leaves. To s of fruit but a little olive on the finish that I don't love (but I'm sure many would enjoy it).
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13.8% alcohol. Ric Forman just never lets you down. Gorgeous wine. Dark red color. Aromatic nose of black currant, cedar, spice box, and tobacco. In the mouth, incredible balance and concentration; a truly seamless wine that marries fruit, earth, spice, and cedar notes in glorious harmony. Just the right amount of acidity and still showing some tannin on the back end, but the finish is glorious and leaves you with that impression of a wine that is just completely composed and within itself. Truly delightful. A
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This wine was serially tasted in double-blind fashion over a two-hour period at Vintage Wines, Ltd. The bottle was kindly provided by Doug Harrigan. The robe is opaque purple and the nose is explosive, with aromas of smoke, assorted black fruits, minerals and tobacco. Full-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity, big sweet tannins and amazing concentration of fruit. The middle is solid and the alcohol is well-integrated, only until it shows up as a whiff of heat on the long finish. This is a blockbuster Napa Cab which should be a hedonistic delight for another decade or more. Drink now-12/25.
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True classic Napa Cab (in my book) for all reasons - taste (first and foremost), finish (ah, who's counting), depth (all in) and color. Hate to quote from Bill and Ted but "Most Excellent"
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Very old world and almost Bordeaux like. Dark, deep purple in color. Evidences some terroir on the nose as well as the palate. Overtones of tobacco, chocolate, tar and dark red fruit. This is big, complex, layered and has lots of life left. My favorite of a gala New Years flight of 1999 Napa reds including S. Anderson Richard Chambers Vineyard and Rudd Jericho Canyon. This vineyard is at the base of Howell Mtn., outside the AVA and shows none of the bramble notes evident in Craig, Dunn or La Jota but certainly carries the weight and flavor of the mountain wines.
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Smoke and game on the nose (brett?) that made it taste blind like a Rhone or Pauillac. Very French-- refined, restrained fruit, but with good body and length. Lead and dark fruits. Will it hold further? Dark overtones also reminiscent of Dunn without the heavy body.
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13.8% alcohol. This runs neck-in-neck with the 1997. The 1999, however, is a touch more on the elegant side. It's not quite as forward with its fruit, but the complexity is stunning. The bouquet is wrapped in black fruit, cigar box, spice, and earth. Beautifully concentrated, with impeccable balance and purity. This is precisely what Cabernet Sauvignon should be. A stunning wine from start to finish. A
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Could be mistaken IMO for a Pauillac, Brett naturally, and a solid fat core of cassis, tobacco, and spice, will continue to evolve, yet slowly, Lynch B anyone?
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Semi Obnoxious Dudes @ Gulfstream 2.0: I love the fruit/structure combination of Forman wines. This showing well be not totally in sync with itself. Certainly some brett elements going on. Seemed to have some Christmas spice going on.
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Guys' Night Out (Gulfstream - Corona del Mar, CA): A little sour on the nose with hints of latex bandage -- i.e. our buddy Brett. Robust on the palate with sweet and savory notes of roasted red peppers, currants, red licorice, and pipe tobacco. 86-87 points.
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Gulfstream with the Dudes 2.0 (Gulstream, Newport Beach, CA): Fairly ripe on the nose for a Forman with huge fruits, a touch of brown sugar and a slight note of brett. Tons of fruit yet well checked with acids bringing nice balance. Rich and very tannic showing classic Cab lines in a still young way. This has a long way to go. Excellent.
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13.8% alcohol. An absolute winner. Gorgeous nose of black currant, tobacco, and spice. In the mouth, pure California fruit that isn't overdone in the least, with excellent concentration and complexity. The layers of pencil lead, tobacco, earth, and spice are lovely. Good acidity. Still kicking with some tannin on the back end. Delicious. A-
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Very happy with this bottle. Had it with some friends and everyone liked it. Earthy tones with a fair amount of tannin. This bottle is just about at prime.
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The Estate Bottled Forman was a very nice wine. It has a fresh and fruity nose. There are still tannins present, but this wine may not last as long as expected. It’s nearing its peak.
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2/3/2024 - Leto South wrote: 92 Points
Cf our notes from 2016, age has set in a bit. Tannins have softened, acidity more prominent, fruit slightly drying, alcohol more noticeable, a bit less complexity. Still a great wine, but we'd drink any remaining bottles soon.
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1/6/2023 - WetRock wrote:
Still flashing that brett I noted over a decade ago. It takes about 30 minutes for the fruit to awaken and push it back into the background. Powerful cherry buttressed cedar. A touch smoky and sweaty. Rich and silky palate. Ample tannin and acid. Just really all in place. Not so red fruited like a valley floor wine. Darker and more intriguing. Overnight the palate loses a lot of the richness leaving the tannin astringent without its counterweight. That would seem to indicate this is not far from tertiary land. Terrific now though. If you like modern "Napa Cab" you'll hate this. Terrific.
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8/28/2020 - EMTAME wrote: 89 Points
On the rustic side, this is one to drink now vs hold any longer.
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4/27/2019 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep, dark reddish-purple garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with classic cigar box overtones of cedar & tobacco, leather, some herbal notes, mint, anise, earthy/dusty, coffee/cocoa, minerals, spices & a hint of vanilla in the background. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & silky smooth textured, plush, ripe fruit flavors of dark cherries, blackberries & plums with cocoa, herbs, minerals, spices & a hint of vanilla in the background. Long lingering elegant finish. Drinks quite well at present with decanting & airing but even at 20 years of age, it should hold at its present plateau of development for several years longer if cellared properly although any further development may be nominal.
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10/26/2018 - buckeye76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
The 1999 Forman Cabernet was poured alongside the 1999 Pride Reserve Cabernet and was the unanimous winner. Black cherries, currants, licorice, leather, tobacco, and graphite in the nose with a hint of floral. Blackberries, currants, and chocolate in the flavor. Showing beautifully right now, this was an elegant Cabernet with medium to full body, nice complexity, and a long finish. Delicious! 94-95
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10/29/2017 - jsmd wrote: 91 Points
This was not what I expected. It was opened decanted and served with a dry aged strip loin and peppercorn sauce. The wine showed great color with fine clarity. On the palate the fruit was of a red nature and initially muted. If I had not known I may have guessed it was from the left bank and Bordeaux not Cali Cab. There is still lots of tannin holding onto the fruit with few of the secondary characters I would have expected from 18 y/o Cali Cab. I have a few more bottles I will let evolve
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12/22/2016 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gorgeous. Lush with a solid base of graphite and silky tannins.
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8/27/2016 - Leto South wrote: 94 Points
Deep dark red, edge still red. Nice robes. Lovely Bx nose w cedar, leather, roasted oak, whiff of strawberries. Elegant! Very well integrated in mouth w plenty fruit (plums), nice acidity, still prominent tannins. Long aftertaste w complexity, excellent balance, some alcohol. Will easily last 6 - 9 years more. A top class Napa Bordeaux!
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8/16/2016 - wine maestro wrote: 91 Points
99 Vintage Retrospective
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2/23/2016 - FLI Likes this wine: 93 Points
Outstanding - wine of the weekend by far. Still showing a lot of rich fruit, though tannins integrated. Like a nice St. Julien. Ready to drink.
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7/26/2015 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 93 Points
Strong medium-dark ruby. Legs still good. Classic aged cab nose: cassis, leather, cedar. Dead ringer for a good cab; unmistakeable. Smooth and rich on entry in the mouth, full, rich flavor. Great dollop of fruit. Plum. This ha aged beautifully and should last many more years. No signs of decline at all. 4-13-17-9: 93/100.
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11/10/2012 - mygrogro wrote: 94 Points
consistent is the word that comes to mind
from the bouquet with rich grape jammy to the finish of
peanut butter and oak
mild yet consistent !
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12/31/2011 - JB in SD wrote: 93 Points
Inhaled and thought, "Wow...that nose is a dead ringer for a Left Bank Bordeaux." Had to grin when I read the WS review just now, which opens, "A dead ringer for a Bordeaux..." Wonderful, youthful wine with rich fruits and great complexity on both the nose and palate. Really a treat.
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11/12/2011 - jmcelroy wrote: 93 Points
Opened another to see if last one was typical of remaining bottles. What a difference! This bottle reflects what I expect from a Forman cabernet. Lovely mature cabernet flavors with balance and finesse. No hurry to drink the remaining bottles in my cellar.
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11/8/2011 - jmcelroy wrote: 80 Points
Very disappointing. Lots of aldehydes and esters. Very unusual for Forman. Hopefully just this bottle. Will try another in the near future.
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9/1/2011 - coremill wrote: 92 Points
Older Napa Cabs at Vin, Vino, Wine: This is all about sweet tobacco, with some nice black fruit playing a more supporting role, and hints of earth and sweet oak making an appearance as well. There's a fair amount of tannin but it's chewy and fuzzy rather than harsh and drying. Drinking this feels like settling down with a pipe in an overstuffed armchair. Really good.
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7/11/2011 - AlexHop wrote: 92 Points
Wow, this is great with intense dark fruit. Rich deep nose with cedar and forest and leaves. To s of fruit but a little olive on the finish that I don't love (but I'm sure many would enjoy it).
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5/31/2011 - gutt22 wrote:
13.8% alcohol. Ric Forman just never lets you down. Gorgeous wine. Dark red color. Aromatic nose of black currant, cedar, spice box, and tobacco. In the mouth, incredible balance and concentration; a truly seamless wine that marries fruit, earth, spice, and cedar notes in glorious harmony. Just the right amount of acidity and still showing some tannin on the back end, but the finish is glorious and leaves you with that impression of a wine that is just completely composed and within itself. Truly delightful. A
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5/13/2011 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 94 Points
This wine was serially tasted in double-blind fashion over a two-hour period at Vintage Wines, Ltd. The bottle was kindly provided by Doug Harrigan. The robe is opaque purple and the nose is explosive, with aromas of smoke, assorted black fruits, minerals and tobacco. Full-bodied on the palate, with low-to-medium acidity, big sweet tannins and amazing concentration of fruit. The middle is solid and the alcohol is well-integrated, only until it shows up as a whiff of heat on the long finish. This is a blockbuster Napa Cab which should be a hedonistic delight for another decade or more. Drink now-12/25.
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1/31/2011 - sbfireman wrote: 93 Points
True classic Napa Cab (in my book) for all reasons - taste (first and foremost), finish (ah, who's counting), depth (all in) and color. Hate to quote from Bill and Ted but "Most Excellent"
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12/31/2010 - wconnolly wrote: 95 Points
Very old world and almost Bordeaux like. Dark, deep purple in color. Evidences some terroir on the nose as well as the palate. Overtones of tobacco, chocolate, tar and dark red fruit. This is big, complex, layered and has lots of life left. My favorite of a gala New Years flight of 1999 Napa reds including S. Anderson Richard Chambers Vineyard and Rudd Jericho Canyon. This vineyard is at the base of Howell Mtn., outside the AVA and shows none of the bramble notes evident in Craig, Dunn or La Jota but certainly carries the weight and flavor of the mountain wines.
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11/15/2010 - marshalc wrote: 90 Points
Smoke and game on the nose (brett?) that made it taste blind like a Rhone or Pauillac. Very French-- refined, restrained fruit, but with good body and length. Lead and dark fruits. Will it hold further? Dark overtones also reminiscent of Dunn without the heavy body.
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6/29/2010 - gutt22 wrote:
13.8% alcohol. This runs neck-in-neck with the 1997. The 1999, however, is a touch more on the elegant side. It's not quite as forward with its fruit, but the complexity is stunning. The bouquet is wrapped in black fruit, cigar box, spice, and earth. Beautifully concentrated, with impeccable balance and purity. This is precisely what Cabernet Sauvignon should be. A stunning wine from start to finish. A
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1/8/2010 - MDV wrote: 92 Points
Could be mistaken IMO for a Pauillac, Brett naturally, and a solid fat core of cassis, tobacco, and spice, will continue to evolve, yet slowly, Lynch B anyone?
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12/15/2009 - jasonh wrote: 92 Points
Semi Obnoxious Dudes @ Gulfstream 2.0: I love the fruit/structure combination of Forman wines. This showing well be not totally in sync with itself. Certainly some brett elements going on. Seemed to have some Christmas spice going on.
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12/15/2009 - Paul Lin wrote: 86 Points
Guys' Night Out (Gulfstream - Corona del Mar, CA): A little sour on the nose with hints of latex bandage -- i.e. our buddy Brett. Robust on the palate with sweet and savory notes of roasted red peppers, currants, red licorice, and pipe tobacco. 86-87 points.
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12/15/2009 - WetRock wrote:
Gulfstream with the Dudes 2.0 (Gulstream, Newport Beach, CA): Fairly ripe on the nose for a Forman with huge fruits, a touch of brown sugar and a slight note of brett. Tons of fruit yet well checked with acids bringing nice balance. Rich and very tannic showing classic Cab lines in a still young way. This has a long way to go. Excellent.
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11/7/2009 - vinojones wrote: 93 Points
as before, rock solid, dependable
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4/16/2009 - vinojones wrote: 93 Points
Benchmark cabernet- classic cab nose, perfectly balanced, great flavor complexity but not over the top or sexed up oakiness; long pure finish
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4/12/2009 - gutt22 wrote:
13.8% alcohol. An absolute winner. Gorgeous nose of black currant, tobacco, and spice. In the mouth, pure California fruit that isn't overdone in the least, with excellent concentration and complexity. The layers of pencil lead, tobacco, earth, and spice are lovely. Good acidity. Still kicking with some tannin on the back end. Delicious. A-
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10/14/2006 - Brett wrote: 91 Points
Second bottle for the same party.
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10/14/2006 - Brett wrote: 91 Points
Very happy with this bottle. Had it with some friends and everyone liked it. Earthy tones with a fair amount of tannin. This bottle is just about at prime.
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12/30/2005 - brianofthevine wrote: 94 Points
Thick, rich, dark fruit with licorice and tar notes. Big bold tannins.
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10/29/2005 - Brett wrote: 90 Points
The Estate Bottled Forman was a very nice wine. It has a fresh and fruity nose. There are still tannins present, but this wine may not last as long as expected. It’s nearing its peak.
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