Forman Chateau La Grande Roche Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2023

Ric Forman is one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated and established winemakers having worked over fifty harvests here. His resume includes some of our most iconic wineries including Stony Hill in 1967, Robert Mondavi in 1968 and shortly after becoming the first winemaker at Sterling Vineyards making the inaugural vintage in 1969. After Sterling Vineyards was sold to Coca-Cola in 1975, the original owner of Sterling, Peter Newton with Forman’s help, established his own winery under the Newton label on a piece of land above David Abreu’s Madrona Vineyard in Saint Helena. Around that same time, Forman had found and purchased his own piece of property across the valley floor on Howell Mountain in 1978. Forman made the wines at Newton for four years then left to focus solely on his own project and in 1983 he released his first wine under his own label of Forman. The winery is situated on Big Rock Road perched on a ridge at the base of Howell Mountain overlooking the town of St. Helena. 

While working at Newton, Ric got to know now-famed vineyard manager David Abreu and after Ric purchased his property, the two developed a partnership where in Abreu planted Ric’s vineyard and assisted in the farming and in return, Forman helped make the first several vintages of Abreu’s wine. Vintages 1985-1999 of Abreu were all made at Forman’s winery. To say that Ric Forman is an icon in the Napa Valley is simply an understatement and to say that this wine is anything less than spectacular would be an outrage! 

Meaning house of the big rock, this is the second label of Forman Vineyard. Named after the massive pink and grey boulders on which the winery was built, Ric established this second label to assure that the Forman Cabernet will always be created from only the very best lots each year. Think Pavillon Rouge from Château  Margaux, Pauillac de Château Latour from Château Latour, or Overture from Opus One. The 2023 is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Cabernet Franc. Aromas of currant, black cherry, and baking spices meld with hints of dusty, herbal qualities. Elegant tannins and an energy set the stage for this classic style of Forman Cabernet at a fraction of the price.