Philip Togni - Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 (1.5L)

Our vineyard and winery are at 2000 feet elevation near the top of Spring Mountain in the western hills of the Napa Valley.

We arrived on Spring Mountain in 1975 and began planting our vineyard in 1981, though vines were first planted here at the end of the 19th century. The oldest vines are now from 1985 and our youngest were planted in 1997. Our ten-acre vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. We farm our vineyard ourselves using organic practices.

There are three owners, Birgitta and Philip Togni, joined by their daughter Lisa. Philip is a former student of Emile Peynaud at the University of Bordeaux where he earned the Diplôme National d’Oenologie many years ago while working as assistant Régisseur at Château Lascombes. Philip came to the Napa Valley in 1959.  Lisa has a background in the wine trade and has done harvests in Australia and at Château Léoville-Barton in Bordeaux.

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a classy, sophisticated wine that shows the more restrained side of the year and this site. I imagine the 2019 will flesh out in time. Bright acids, red-toned fruit, dried herbs, mint and silky tannins convey finesse more than power. I especially admire the aromatics today. I can't wait to see how this ages.