Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.
Bibendum Wine Co.

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Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

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Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Producer Philip Togni Vineyard
Region, Country Napa Valley, USA
Bottle Size 750ml
Case Size 0
Product Code 24287-750

The Philip Togni estate vineyard is in the Spring Mountain District AVA, just northwest of the town of St. Helena on the western side of the Napa Valley. Sitting on the eastern slope of the Mayacamas Range, it’s the coolest and wettest region in the valley, partly due to its proximity to the Pacific Ocean (50 kilometres) and San Pablo Bay (40 kilometres). Conditions on Spring Mountain are further moderated by aspect and altitude; most of the region’s vineyards face east, avoiding the harsh afternoon sun, and the steep terrain can reach as high as 800 metres.

The east-facing, organic, dry-farmed 10-hectare Togni plot lies high up on the mountain itself, above the fog line at just over 600 metres. Surrounded by oak trees and tall Douglas Firs, the site was first planted in 1981 to Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc. Following a conversation with friend and Bordeaux legend Paul Pontallier, Togni decided to mirror the varietal plantings of Château Margaux at his own estate. The plantings now stand at 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, with the balance comprising Cabernet Franc (2%) and Petit Verdot (1%). The make-up of the wines reflects these plantings. It’s a steeply terraced site, home to old vines (33 years on average) in rocky soils of weathered sandstone and shale.

Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon is made from estate fruit―the family has never purchased fruit, nor will they. “We know our site is special,” daughter Lisa explains. “We’re trying to make a wine that reflects this place.” In another tip of the cap to Bordeaux, Philip Togni’s preference from the outset has been to make wines more in the mould of Saint-Estèphe rather than Saint-Julien; in each given season, he and Lisa seek to emulate the longevity, rugged character and definition found in those wines. “That’s what we set out to do, and with a few tweaks, it seems as if that’s what we have achieved.

Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Reviews

"Bordeaux-like, it has a nose of graphite, blackcurrants, forest floor and spice box. Medium to full-bodied, it still possesses moderate tannins that need to be shed, but offers outstanding purity and loads of personality. Togni was trained in Bordeaux, and there’s no question that he applies his classic winemaking style to the beautiful fruit he obtains from his Spring Mountain estate. I’ve been an enthusiastic purchaser of many of his vintages, starting in the mid-1980s and working right through most of the vintages of the 1990s. As impenetrable, backward and austere as they seem in their youth, these wines are guaranteed to be hugely successful after about 15-20 years of bottle age. At ten years of age, the Togni 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is still a baby, and one of the youngest wines I tasted. While most 2005s are showing beautifully, with admirable freshness across the board, but this one is a baby to put to sleep for another five years.”
92+ points, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
“The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is just beginning to enter its early plateau of maturity. Savory herbs, plums, graphite, rose petal, lavender and sage all open up in an exotic, beguiling Cabernets that exudes personality. The 2005 has enough depth and structure to drink well for another 20 years, although it is not an especially big wine nor is it likely to improve materially from here. A second bottle, tasted six months prior, was much deeper, inkier and explosive. Either way, the 2005 is in the sweet spot today and will drink well for another 15 years or so, perhaps longer.”
95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (tasted October 2015)

Reviews

"Bordeaux-like, it has a nose of graphite, blackcurrants, forest floor and spice box. Medium to full-bodied, it still possesses moderate tannins that need to be shed, but offers outstanding purity and loads of personality. Togni was trained in Bordeaux, and there’s no question that he applies his classic winemaking style to the beautiful fruit he obtains from his Spring Mountain estate. I’ve been an enthusiastic purchaser of many of his vintages, starting in the mid-1980s and working right through most of the vintages of the 1990s. As impenetrable, backward and austere as they seem in their youth, these wines are guaranteed to be hugely successful after about 15-20 years of bottle age. At ten years of age, the Togni 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon is still a baby, and one of the youngest wines I tasted. While most 2005s are showing beautifully, with admirable freshness across the board, but this one is a baby to put to sleep for another five years.”
92+ points, Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
“The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is just beginning to enter its early plateau of maturity. Savory herbs, plums, graphite, rose petal, lavender and sage all open up in an exotic, beguiling Cabernets that exudes personality. The 2005 has enough depth and structure to drink well for another 20 years, although it is not an especially big wine nor is it likely to improve materially from here. A second bottle, tasted six months prior, was much deeper, inkier and explosive. Either way, the 2005 is in the sweet spot today and will drink well for another 15 years or so, perhaps longer.”
95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (tasted October 2015)

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