With just two wines and a steadfast commitment to classic winemaking, Philip Togni remains one of Napa Valley’s last true old-school Cabernet producers.
As one of my favorite movie characters — Frozone from The Incredibles — once said, “There’s no school like the old school.” Few Napa wineries embody that philosophy better than Philip Togni.
Philip Togni was hired by Donn Chappellet in the late 1960s to become the founding winemaker at Chappellet Vineyard on what we now know as Pritchard Hill. Arriving in 1968, Togni crafted the estate’s early legendary Cabernets, including the famed 1969 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon, still regarded as one of Napa Valley’s benchmark mountain wines.
In 1981, Philip and his wife Birgitta struck out on their own, purchasing a rugged vineyard site nearby on Spring Mountain. Two years later, they released the inaugural 1983 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon — a wine now viewed as foundational when discussing Napa’s great mountain-grown Cabernets.
More than 40 years later, the philosophy at Philip Togni Vineyard remains remarkably unchanged. The winery produces just two Cabernet-based wines each year: the flagship Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon, a deeply ageworthy, Margaux-inspired blend built primarily around Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot; and Tanbark Hill, sourced from select estate blocks and designed to be more approachable in its youth.
That’s it. No endless single-clone bottlings. No heavily manipulated “reserve” programs. No extended-barrel-aged luxury cuvées. Just a Grand Vin, a second label, and an unwavering commitment to traditional Napa mountain Cabernet. Simple, straightforward, and incredibly delicious.
We’re especially excited because we’ve just received the newly released 2023 vintages of both wines. Early reviews suggest Togni continues to operate at the absolute highest level, with Vinous awarding the 2023 Philip Togni Cabernet Sauvignon 98 points and the 2023 Tanbark Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 93 points.
Antonio Galloni captured the magic of the flagship bottling perfectly, writing:
“The 2023 [Philip Togni Vineyard] Cabernet Sauvignon is outrageously beautiful. Graphite, lavender, crushed rocks, menthol and dark spice emerge with great reluctance… It’s a vivid, explosive Cabernet that will need at least a few years to be at its most expressive… Captivating.”
For lovers of traditionally styled Napa Cabernet, Philip Togni remains one of the last true standard bearers — proving that elegance, restraint, and patience never go out of style