Cabernet Sauvignon, Philip Togni Vineyard, 2014
2014 was a small, distinctive, and undoubtedly excellent vintage in Napa. The 2014 Philip Togni is a perfect expression of this, offering an abundance of elegance and complexity. A beautiful bouquet of plum and black cherry leads to a palate of silky tannins and impressive concentration. An hour or two in a decanter will allow the wine’s rich texture to fully emerge and all the aromas to unfurl. There’s an almost precocious charm to this vintage, and it is drinking beautifully now. That said, knowing Togni’s track record, I have no doubt it will continue to do so for at least the next decade. This is classic Togni: a wine that perfectly balances finesse and structure with remarkable depth.
critic reviews
The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has only recently started to open after a long period of dormancy. It’s classic Togni all the way: dark, intensely savory and built to age. Once a brute, today the 2014 is all understatement, all class. Sage, mint, graphite, dried flowers, blood orange and mocha weave through a core of dark-toned fruit. Despite drought conditions, yields were quite generous at three tons per acre.
Togni's 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, tasted at the winery as the 10-year anniversary release, is just starting to show some maturity, with complex, compelling notes of earth, cassis, mocha, tobacco, cigar box and vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, somehow both firm and silky in feel, with a ripe, lingering finish. Looking back at Robert Parker's notes from its release, it's fascinating to see that he rated this wine 94+ and considered it "one of his [Togni's] more forward and precociously styled Cabernets."