Gandona Cabernet Sauvignon Encosta Estate Napa Valley 2019

Made by the legendary winemaker Philippe Melka, this 2019 Encosta Cabernet Sauvignon is as classic Pritchard Hill as it gets – chock-full of vivacious black fruits with mineral and floral undertones and a dusty, lengthy finish – for a price that can’t be beat. Only 1,050 cases ever made makes this a truly pristine rarity...we only wish we had more, so make your way to the cart fast!

Tucked away in the prestigious Pritchard Hill of Napa Valley, Gandona Winery is a place to behold, where awe-inspiring vistas and steep, terraced vineyards converge to create an unparalleled environment for producing world-class wines. The name "Gandona," derived from Portuguese, means "humble man" – a tribute to Manuel Pires’s grandfather, who was locally famous in his village for his boundless generosity and kindness. After a stellar career as the president of a globally recognized security technology company, Manuel returned to his family’s farming roots in 2006, founding Gandona as a testament to his grandfather's remarkable legacy. His team’s passion intertwines with precision to deliver wines of exceptional quality and character that are nothing short of spectacular.

Although it’s Gandona’s secondary wine, there’s nothing second-rate about this 2019 Encosta (which means “slope” or “hill”). Made of 98% estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, the remaining 2% of the blend is filled out with Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot. It ages in two-thirds new French oak barrels to really soften and smooth any hard edges, and bring in a luscious vanilla-tinged lacing to complement the core of big, dark fruit. “This is a terrific showing. Encosta is such an elegant wine, not to mention one of the hidden gems in Napa Valley,” Antonio Galloni remarked of the wine. 2019 as a whole is considered an excellent vintage for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, scoring 96 points overall from Wine Spectator and developing wines that are vivid, fresh, and balanced – able to drink beautifully in their youth or age for many years to come.

A deep and dark core of juicy plums and black cherries explode from the glass, with hallmark Pritchard Hill notes of spearmint, crushed gravel, and purple flowers coming in with finesse and power. Accents of blood orange, cigar box spice, and gentle oak bring it to a generous and long finish, with fine-grained tannins and a classic Napa, full-bodied texture that gives and gives, even in its considerable youth. We are thrilled with everything about this generous Pritchard Hill Cabernet from an awesome vintage, rockstar winemaker, and lovely estate!

PAIRING IDEAS: Let’s go with a classic smash burger – topped with aged cheddar cheese, white onion, lettuce, tomato, brown mustard, and a squirt of pepperoncini juice (trust me), served on a pretzel bun. And now...I’m hungry AND thirsty.