Philip Togni Vineyard Napa Cabernet 2001

Robert Parker: The utterly compelling 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate was last year's library release (now sold out at the winery). There's a hint of bricking at the rim, but the wine remains dark to its core and should easily last at least the rest of this decade. Hints of mint and cassis appear on the nose alongside developed notes of beef drippings, leather and cigar box, while the medium to full-bodied palate is fantastically silky and resolved, just a wonderfully elegant mature Cabernet, finishing long and mouthwatering. 98/100

Decanter: The 2001 growing season was near-perfect for Napa growers. The 2021 Philip Togni Vineyard Cabernet presents a very dark, ruby colour with slight bricking at the rim. At 23 years of age, tasted in August 2024, this was a real surprise. Its impressively youthful nature is evident from the colour alone. Still, upon pulling the cork, this wine reveals itself as compact and intensely flavourful, with muscular Spring Mountain tannins that remain very present, though perfectly integrated and almost powdery at this stage. It’s a rich wine with a full-bodied palate displaying a deep core of ripe, pure blackberry, cassis, spiced plum, and even hints of salted dark chocolate and ironstone minerality. The acids are firm, providing a strong foundation for this wine, which is truly delicious and surprisingly youthful at this stage. If you have this in your cellar or access to it, now is an excellent time to open and experience it, though it will undoubtedly continue to impress over the next decade. 99/100

Jeff Leve: Still young at close to 15 years of age, this is a powerful, tannic, structured wine, with plenty of ripe blackberries, fresh herbs, tobacco and earthy notes. Another 5 years, perhaps even 10 will add a lot to this wine. 95/100