2007 Philip Togni Ca'Togni Sweet Red

By far one the most intriguing sweet wines being made in Napa Valley, 2007 Ca’ Togni (Black Hamburgh) wafts from the glass with a beguiling array of bergamot, Chamomille, sweet herbs, dried mountain flowers, mint and juicy black cherries. This exotic, quirky, sweet red wine is best enjoyed on its own as a vino da meditazione or meditation wine, as the Italians would say. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2017. Philip Togni, along with his wife Birgitta and daughter Lisa continue to turn out some of the most distinctive and age worthy Cabernet Sauvignons in Napa Valley. The wines are built on structure more than overt fruit, so they need a few years in bottle to come together, but when they do, they are spectacular. Sadly, this year there are no library releases, as Togni did not bottle his 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon and there isn’t enough of the 1992 for a commercial release. Togni remains a benchmark, reference point producer for Napa Valley, with pricing that is incredibly consumer friendly. www.philiptognivineyard.com

(23.2% residual sugar with 14% alcohol): Medium red. Alluring aromas of exotic white fruits, rose petal, toffee, maple syrup, date, lichee and mint. Lovely suave, sweet wine with a distinctly sappy quality and pungent floral lift giving it a light touch. Not an especially thick style, this wine is most noteworthy for its freshness and perfumed persistence. This should be downright gulpable upon its release. A healthy three barrels of this wine were made from grapes picked at the beginning of November.