PHILIP TOGNI CABERNET SPRING MOUNTAIN
NAPA VALLEY, CALIFORNIA 2021
Why Buy: This 100-Point Spring Mountain Cabernet, featuring fruit from old vines + low yields + estate bottling, is a classic with depth, complexity, finesse, soul ... in short, the kind of old-school winemaking that the region made its vast reputation on, and that reminds us of just how exciting and rewarding a Napa Cab can be.
What They're Saying: " An absolutely riveting Cabernet showing a deep ruby-purple colour. Gorgeously fragrant at the cork's pull with terrific violets and loads of black currants" Decanter raved, in a 100-point review. "It is incredibly aromatic, elegant, and structured, and it is also a complete and seamless wine."
The Story: Founder Philip Togni brings nearly three-quarters of a century to his work, having tilled his first harvests under the great Emile Peynaud, at the University of Bordeaux, before joining the first great wave of Napa winemakers. Long before Napa became Napa, Togni was there. He arrived in the late 1950s, with the goal of bringing the philosophies and methods of Bordeaux to Spring Mountain. Little has changed since then, though, today, Togni and his wife Birgitta are joined in their effort by daughter Lisa: all the grapes are grown and bottled on site, intervention is kept to a minimum (the better to allow the terroir to express itself), and scaling up is frowned-upon. Meantime, the vines, many of them dating to 1985, keep getting older … and better.
The Specs: A St. Julien -style blend of, predominantly, Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot – all grown on legendary Spring Mountain, whose elevation tops 2,000 feet. The wine aged in French oak, and was racked every three months, with (per Bordeaux tradition) no fining or filtration.
Our Tasting Notes: A wine of size and seriousness that performs with far more nimbleness and subtlety than you might expect at first sip. We reveled in its nuanced aromatics, and the way its fruit, while out front and vibrant, is backed by weight, structure, and a surprising softness. Clearly, the foundation is here for aging, though it's drinking with unexpected maturity already.
Fun Fact: To this day, the Togni family lives on the 25-acre estate where the grapes are grown and harvested, and where the wine is bottled.
What to Pair It With: Pasta puttanesca; a charcuterie board; chicken mole; pan-seared duck breast with cherries; a meatball sub with mozzarella.
Our Guarantee: We always buy direct and only source direct, so rest assured – your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2025. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in AZ, CA, DE, KY, LA, MD, NJ, NM, NV, SC, VA, and WA. This offer will expire on Monday, November 11th, 2024.