United States · California

Forman

Ric Forman founded his eponymous Napa Valley winery in 1983 following his influential tenure as winemaker at Sterling Vineyards and later at Newton Vineyard, where he was instrumental in establishing Napa Chardonnay's international reputation. Forman Vineyard is situated on a steeply terraced hillside east of St. Helena, with the estate Cabernet Sauvignon blocks planted on rocky volcanic soils at elevations between 800 and 1,200 feet. The philosophy here is one of restraint and terroir transparency: relatively moderate alcohol, minimal new oak (approximately 30–35% new barrels), and no fining or filtration. The Cabernet Sauvignon is the flagship, planted to roughly 90% of the estate's 45 acres; it consistently earns ratings of 92–95 points from major publications and is priced attractively relative to better-known Napa benchmarks. At auction, 246 lots of the Cabernet average $103 per bottle with 2007 the most frequently traded vintage and peaks reaching $861 — likely older verticals in larger formats. The Chardonnay, produced in small quantities and averaging $96 across 12 lots, is noteworthy for its lean, mineral style that references white Burgundy more than California convention. With a portfolio average of $101 across 302 lots, Forman offers collectors a consistent, age-worthy Napa hillside Cabernet from one of the valley's most respected founder winemakers at a price point well below comparable hillside peers.