2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
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Tasting notes
Togni’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate has long been a favorite. A cool year punctuated by late-season heat yielded an exotic, full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon that marries a classical sense of structure with an added kick of ripeness. That duality is a big part of what makes this vintage so alluring. Dark-fleshed fruit, spicebox, mocha, graphite and dried herbs all come alive in the glass. The 2010 is in a perfect spot to offer tons of pure drinking pleasure. All the fruit was harvested in October. Togni thinned significantly to ripen the crop. As a result, yields were down 50%.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Philip Togni’s 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is a great wine from a vintage that continues to show its profound beauty. Mind-blowing in intensity, the 2010 races across the palate with copious dark fruit mixed with hints of gravel, licorice and savory herbs. Because of Philip Togni’s Bordeaux training, his Cabernet Sauvignon is often said to be Old World-leaning. That may be the case next to Napa’s most flamboyant wines, but to me, the 2010 Togni is classic Napa all the way.
Full bright ruby to the rim. Musky but precise scents of dark mountain berries, wild herbs, violet and spices; a distinctly wild style of Cabernet. Uncompromisingly dry yet surprisingly supple on entry, then intense, sharply delineated and alive in the middle palate, showing a repeating pungent wild herb quality to its intense dark berry flavors. Not at all a sweet style but subtle and extremely long, with the tannins remarkably suave for mountain fruit. There's a peppery, savory energy here that I love but also plenty of body and palate presence. Finishes with terrific lift and emerging notes of leather and pine needles. A bit sauvage and idiosyncratic, this Cabernet is the full Togni. Boasts outstanding potential longevity.
After going through a period of post-bottling dormancy, Philip Togni's 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon has really begun to show well from bottle over the last six months or so. Of course, the 2010 is far too young to deliver maximum pleasure, but it is nevertheless superb tonight. Beams of acidity and tannin give energy to the dark fruit and its accompanying floral/savory/mineral overtones. The 2010 is a classic Philip Togni wine that will thrill readers who appreciate classically built Cabernets. Recent bottles from the early 1990s and 2000s show just how much these wines transform when given the proper time to develop in bottle. At their best, Togni's wines bring together an Old World sensibility with Napa Valley richness, a pretty appealing combination, in my book.
About the producer
Perched at nearly 2,000 feet atop Spring Mountain, Philip Togni Vineyard is one of Napa Valley’s most revered small, family-run wineries. Established in the early 1980s by legendary winemaker Philip Togni, the estate has earned consistent critical acclaim for its age-worthy, Bordeaux-style blends.