Winemaker Notes
The second label from Philip Togni Vineyard, "Tanbark Hill" comes from the same 10.5-acre estate vineyard as their eponymous wine and receives the same impeccable care in the cellar (20 months in 40% new French oak). The wine generally consists of fruit harvested from a 3-acre block (planted to 99% Cabernet Sauvignon) which has slightly richer soils. Added to the wine made from this block are barrels destined for the Estate bottling that are deemed more suitable for earlier drinking.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The gorgeous, sexy 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Tanbark Hill offers up aromas of road tar, cedar, black currants, unsmoked, high class cigar tobacco, earth, and spice. Dense, supple-textured, and fleshy, it is already a total delight to drink, which is not always the case for a Togni Cabernet Sauvignon in its infancy. This 2006 should last for 10-15 years. This is an irrefutable source of remarkable Cabernet Sauvignons that last 20-30+ years! Philip Togni is a no-nonsense, tough-minded guy who is working alongside his daughter, so the succession at this winery is guaranteed should he ever decide to retire.
One of the most prestigious wines of the world capable of great power and grace, Napa Valley Cabernet is a leading force in the world of fine, famous, collectible red wine. Today the Napa Valley and Cabernet Sauvignon are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other. But it wasn’t until the 1970s that this marriage came to light; sudden international recognition rained upon Napa with the victory of the Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars 1973 Cabernet Sauvignon in the 1976 Judgement of Paris.
Cabernet Sauvignon undoubtedly dominates Napa Valley today, covering half of the land under vine, commanding the highest prices per ton and earning the most critical acclaim. Cabernet Sauvignon’s structure, acidity, capacity to thrive in multiple environs and ability to express nuances of vintage make it perfect for Napa Valley where incredible soil and geographical diversity are found and the climate is perfect for grape growing. Within the Napa Valley lie many smaller sub-AVAs that express specific characteristics based on situation, slope and soil—as a perfect example, Rutherford’s famous dust or Stags Leap District's tart cherry flavors.