Toymaker Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019

With the seemingly endless breadth of knowledge to be gained regarding wine, one can easily slip too far into the “sophistication” of it all.  From the long lists of producers, AVAs, soil types, techniques, and history (and don’t even get us started on imported wines), a breath of fresh air is often warranted and desired to remind us of wine’s most genuine intention. Wine is about the pure indulgence of a product of nature and man’s combined efforts, by oneself or, more enjoyably, with family and friends.  Toymaker suggestively hints at the much-needed warning not to take wine too seriously, and that quality, precision, and pedigree don’t have to take a back seat to the lighthearted. 

Established in 2011 by Shirlin Wong, Toymaker’s mission is to “create a fun and playful interpretation of a serious Napa Valley Grand Cru Cabernet Sauvignon by combining excellence in winemaking with world-class design.” Who better to understand entertainment than the daughter of a toymaker who owns one of the world’s largest toy collections?    In addition to collecting handmade and rare toys, Shirlin is a true oenophile as an avid collector of wine and, particularly, those of Napa Valley.  Her passion for Cabernet from our small valley was a driving factor for creating Toymaker and informed her choice for winemaker by selecting one of Napa’s legends, Martha McClellan.   

Martha’s resume is a treasure trove of the prestigious, coveted, and rarified wineries of Napa Valley.  Beyond being known for her tenures at Sloan Estate, Checkerboard Vineyards, and her personal brand Levy & McClellan, Martha has quietly tinkered away at the wines of Toymaker since its inaugural vintage in 2012.  In describing Martha’s style, the word ‘meticulous’ cannot go without mention.  She is intentional in each step, from harvest date to barrel selection to blending. Toymaker extends this precision to their hyper-small production with curated selections for their French glass bottles, Spanish corks, and distinctly designed label.  And this care also means that Toymaker is not widely available, as they vet any and all clientele and cautiously choose their retail and restaurant partners. 

In writing about Toymaker, we must take note of their whimsical labels.  From their first vintage to their current, each year depicts a different traditional, crafted toy that transports you back to your childhood and times of carefree play.  With each year being a new toy, the labels become a collector’s item; the library selection is lovingly referred to as “the toy chest” by their team, and the release of a new vintage is met with bated breath to learn of the label’s subject toy. 

Only 195 cases were produced of the 2019 flagship Toymaker 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.  Coming from high-elevation Diamond Mountain hillside vineyards, the wine is aged in 100% new French oak barrels (Taransaud, to be exact.)  After barrel aging, the bottles rest for 28 months in 100% new French oak before release.  In Martha's words “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.?”  Securing the Toymaker was an exciting endeavor, and we expect after indulging in the 2019, you’ll soon find yourselves “toy” collectors too.