2019 Gandona Cabernet Sauvignon Encosta
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Tasting notes
Gandona's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Encosta features scents of crushed stone and pencil shavings layered atop ripe plums and black cherries. While it's full-bodied, with some grainy tannins, it's not unapproachable, with a long, dusty-textured finish. For those keeping track of the minutia, it was aged in two-thirds new French oak and there's a tiny proportion (less than 2% in aggregate) of other grape varieties: Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Previous vintages are still on the market for around $100, so this may be the rare affordable bottling from Pritchard Hill (1,050 cases produced).
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2019 Encosta is a big, full-bodied, ripe, fruit-forward effort with lots of darker, ripe black fruits as well as some scorched earth and obvious minerality. It’s slightly straightforward, but it brings plenty of classic Napa Valley fruit and texture. The blend is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest tiny amounts of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, brought up in two-thirds new barrels.
The 2019 Encosta, Gandona's second wine, is bright, punchy and full of character. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, spice and blood orange lend tremendous freshness. This is a terrific showing. Encosta is such an elegant wine, not to mention one of the hidden gems in Napa Valley.