Napa Valley

Full

Cork

Rather heavy spring rains marked the beginning of the 1991 growing season for Napa producers and was relatively cool through to harvest. It is considered one of Napa's great vintages. During a tasting in August 2024 at the Philip Togni Spring Mountain estate, Philip, then 98 years old and sharp as a tack, shared some interesting background: ‘We had three fermenters at this time and three acres of Sauvignon Blanc occupying one of the tanks. The fruit was getting overripe, and so we had to borrow some half-ton fermenters, and we did punch-downs in those—quite a departure from our typical protocol.’ This is one of those rare, special wines that show up now and then in a professional setting, and you can't imagine spitting it. So, full disclosure, I did not! If you have any in the cellar, lucky you. The palate exhibits a seamless character—everything is in harmony, with nothing out of balance. Initially, the wine is reticent, even backwards, at the pull of the cork. Still, with air, it begins to open up, revealing a wonderfully silky and satiny texture with loads of loamy earth, sweet tobacco, and dried herbs alongside cassis, white pepper, charcuterie, and a real umami deliciousness that’s hard to ignore. Honestly, this is a monumental wine, perhaps with a bit more alcohol than in some years, as Philip suggested in his 'overripe' comment, but overall, it's a powerhouse and a showy red with nothing out of place.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Philip Togni, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA, 1991

togni-cabernet-sauvignon-58e63e142b599-5c8a872b23955.jpeg

Rather heavy spring rains marked the beginning of the 1991 growing season for Napa producers and was relatively cool through to 

Philip Togni, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 1991

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