2019 Toymaker is the eighth addition to the Toymaker collection of wines. The label features a 1930’s toy Grand Prix race car and is the fourth and final in our series of labels featuring transportation-inspired toys that drove our imaginations as children. This wine is very limited and reserved for our mailing list members.
The 2019 growing season in Napa Valley was marked by a series of contrasts, resulting in wines of profound depth and character. The year began with a cool and wet winter, replenishing the soils and setting the stage for a slightly delayed bud break. Spring brought with it a steady warmth, allowing for consistent flowering and even fruit set. The summer months were characterized by moderate temperatures, avoiding any significant heat spikes. This steady climate provided a longer window for the grapes to mature, deepening their flavors and intensities.
As fall approached, the region was blessed with cool nights and warm days, the perfect balance to ensure the retention of acidity while achieving optimal ripeness. The harvest, although slightly later than in previous years, was smooth with vintners noting the exceptional quality of the grapes.
All in all, 2019 was a testament to Napa Valley's resilience and adaptability. The wines from this vintage, while showcasing the valley’s signature fruit-forward character, also hint at layers of complexity, making them sought after by connoisseurs and novices alike.
"The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color. Notes of black cherries, blackberries, and blackcurrant jelly spill from the glass, followed by an evocative perfume of black raspberries, red roses, lavender, and cinnamon stick. The full-bodied palate is taut with muscular, intense fruit, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and just enough tension, finishing long and graceful. This tiny production (195 cases) 100% Cabernet Sauvignon is made by the very talented Martha McClellan (who also makes Sloan) and it is simply gorgeous!"
- Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, The Wine Independent (Review 1/10/24)
Technical Specs:
Varietal: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
AVA: Napa Valley
Aging: 28 months all new Taransaud Medium+ French oak
Alc.: 14.9%
Production: 195 cases
Type: Table
Sweetness: Dry
Body: Full
Peak Drinkability: 2027 - 2053
Scores: 99 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, MW, The Wine Independent
Tasting notes:
The 2019 Toymaker, like its immediate predecessor, is best characterized as balanced. Every aspect of the wine is in harmony, from the combination of red and blue fruits, the yin-yang interplay of smooth oak with firm but supple tannins, and the counterbalance of dark, brooding depth with bright, lifting acidity. This is a Toymaker that can be enjoyed in the near term but one that can also be comfortably placed in the back of your cellar for a long slumber.