1989 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon
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Tasting notes
Medium red. Bordeaux-like nose combines redcurrant, leather, smoke, spices, minerals, pepper and a note of warm stones, plus a faint suggestion of Madeira. Plush on entry, with redcurrant, licorice and fresh herb flavors nicely framed by well-integrated acidity. Finishes with serious tannins that turn a bit dry. Ric Forman described this wine as "a bit lean and mean, like the 1995."
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 1989 Cabernet Sauvignon is an improvement over the disappointingly light, hollow 1988 and relatively lean, sterile 1987. The 1989 is dark ruby/purple, with a rich nose of cassis and spicy oak. In the mouth, there is excellent concentration, good weight and elegance, and soft tannins in the finish. It should drink well for at least 8-10 years. Incidentally, I also tasted Forman's 1990 Pinot Noir, of which only 100 cases were made. No release date had been set, but I must say that the big, gamey, earthy, oriental spice-scented nose reveals more than a casual resemblance to the profound bouquets offered by the Pinot Noir made by France's Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. In the mouth, the wine is medium-bodied. While not quite as profound as the nose suggested, it is still excellent Pinot Noir. Bravo!