Gandona Winery: Scenic Views and Lovely Wine
Pritchard Hill is a special place within Napa Valley. Some have called it the “Rodeo Drive” of the wine country. Why is that? It starts with the soil, which is compacted volcanic rock. This plot of land sits on the eastern ridge of central Napa Valley and rises to heights of 1800 feet overlooking Lake Hennessey. The region produces mountain fruit that leads to profoundly deep, flavorful wines that are rich and polished. Located here are some fine wineries, and this includes Gandona Winery.
Gandona is the vision of Manuel Pires, a driven vintner dedicated to producing world class wine. He bought this property and delivered his first estate wine in 2010, enlisting the support of talented, world class individuals to bring his vision to life. The winemaker at Gandona is Phillipe Melka and managing the vineyard is Jim Barbour. These are highly talented and sought after partners in the valley. This represents the commitment that Manuel brings to the quality of his wine.
On our visit, we were met by Kenny Koda who is knowledgeable and experienced in the valley. He shared with us the background of this impressive sight and, trust me, even the floor of the tasting room is gorgeous here. He walked us out to the expanse of the vineyards to see the beauty that unfolds around the winery. The vines are a sprawling sea of green at this time of the year with heavy canopies of leaves.
Our tasting was of the 2012s. Gandona produces two wines which again are both estate only. The commitment is to produce the best expression of the estate and the vines; therefore, no grapes are brought in from other vineyards. These are deep rich expressions of the “hill” with dark fruit and layers of flavor. There are two cabernets: Encosta and Gandona Estate. Encosta (“slope”) come from the terraced hillsides of the estate and its rich red, volcanic soil. The 2012 Gandona Estate is an unbridled expression of Pritchard Hill with dark rich fruit and great texture on the palate. Here is the review from Parker:
Living up to the potential predicted last year, the 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is fabulous. One hundred percent Cabernet Sauvignon aged 22 months in 80% new French oak, there are 500 cases of this terrific wine. With its inky purple color, a glorious nose of blackberry and blueberry liqueur, full-bodied mouthfeel, dense, pure notes interwoven with camphor, charcoal embers and spring flowers, this is stunning stuff and a great example of the Estate’s potential. Drink now – 2025+. 96 points.
This is a winery to visit for the wine and the views.
Enjoy!
