The rating is based upon a comparison of other 2011 wines from Napa. This was a difficult year. The great winemakers found a way to create works of liquid beauty. 60 minute decant. Similar to my notes from 2021. The owner of Gandona is a really nice guy who works with one of the really nice guy consulting winemakers. How can you go wrong?
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WOW! Great winemakers find a way to make great wines in a difficult year. This bottle was decanted for one hour before drinking over the next two hours. Dark fruit, violet, cedar, spice notes were so beautifully woven in a long taste profile (around 60 seconds). This wine is likely to stay in this window and just get a bit more sublime over the next decade.
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From magnum, opened 2 hrs. Nose: Black fruit, mint , dark chocolate Palate: graphite, black fruit, vanilla, quite smooth,but a bit falling short in palate, finishing short. Layer just one dimensional. Anyway easy drinking for everyone. For the price, i would just say it jz worth $80 USD.
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Some great wines with Friends; 5/20/2017-5/21/2017 (The Barn at Walden): My first time trying this wine. Good but outclassed in the flight. Purple in color. The nose is pretty classic with cassis, green bell peppers and char. The bell peppers were a bit distracting for me. I don't mind a bit, but this was just a hint more than I prefer. All the flavors carry through to the palate. Some depth. Slight complexity. Nice mouth feel. 14.8% alc surprised me. I I suspect in better vintages this can get pretty ripe but also be more to my liking.
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Enjoyed this at Braxton Cellars. Purchased from Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the older vines of the estate. Popped and poured. Enjoyed over two hours. This Cab is very intense with great dark chocolate and blackberries. I believe this is St. Helena grapes but the terroir seems like Pritchard Hill. Great well structured wine with plenty of acidity. Extremely long finish. 97 points but keep this until 2020 in the cellars.
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our first time tasting Gandona, this was at the Evening on Pritchard Hill event. this wine blew us away with richness, subtle smoke and a eucalyptus/menthol element. Very good!
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From bottle at the estate with the owner, Manuel. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the older vines of the estate. This showed a lot of kinship to the Encosta, but with a lot more intensity and depth. Dark crushed berries with fantastic minerality. Well structured palate with great acidity all throughout. Very long finish. Overall great wine and one to put in the cellar for awhile.
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3/10/2023 - Myman24 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Easily one of the best 2011 I had so far. Refined and smooth as it can get. Great job at Gandona! Go Portugal 🇵🇹😁
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12/26/2022 - drmarc61 Likes this wine: 95 Points
The rating is based upon a comparison of other 2011 wines from Napa. This was a difficult year. The great winemakers found a way to create works of liquid beauty. 60 minute decant. Similar to my notes from 2021. The owner of Gandona is a really nice guy who works with one of the really nice guy consulting winemakers. How can you go wrong?
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8/23/2021 - patwjr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank from a magnum. Drinking great & drink up. Minimal tannins, cassis, blackberry, smooth fruit, chocolate. Best time to drink is now.
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6/8/2021 - drmarc61 Likes this wine: 95 Points
WOW! Great winemakers find a way to make great wines in a difficult year. This bottle was decanted for one hour before drinking over the next two hours. Dark fruit, violet, cedar, spice notes were so beautifully woven in a long taste profile (around 60 seconds). This wine is likely to stay in this window and just get a bit more sublime over the next decade.
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1/1/2020 - Pettyus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 2 hours...very nice
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1/11/2019 - KCC320 wrote: 91 Points
From magnum, opened 2 hrs.
Nose: Black fruit, mint , dark chocolate
Palate: graphite, black fruit, vanilla, quite smooth,but a bit falling short in palate, finishing short. Layer just one dimensional. Anyway easy drinking for everyone.
For the price, i would just say it jz worth $80 USD.
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10/1/2018 - AngusQ wrote: 90 Points
Fruit was faint. Short finish. Overall disappointing given the $300 price tag
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5/20/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 91 Points
Some great wines with Friends; 5/20/2017-5/21/2017 (The Barn at Walden): My first time trying this wine. Good but outclassed in the flight. Purple in color. The nose is pretty classic with cassis, green bell peppers and char. The bell peppers were a bit distracting for me. I don't mind a bit, but this was just a hint more than I prefer. All the flavors carry through to the palate. Some depth. Slight complexity. Nice mouth feel. 14.8% alc surprised me. I I suspect in better vintages this can get pretty ripe but also be more to my liking.
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9/1/2015 - charleshetzel Likes this wine: 97 Points
Enjoyed this at Braxton Cellars. Purchased from Knightsbridge Wine Shoppe. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the older vines of the estate. Popped and poured. Enjoyed over two hours. This Cab is very intense with great dark chocolate and blackberries. I believe this is St. Helena grapes but the terroir seems like Pritchard Hill. Great well structured wine with plenty of acidity. Extremely long finish. 97 points but keep this until 2020 in the cellars.
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12/29/2014 - pdemaio wrote: 94 Points
Big, rough, and tumble. This seems to have gotten ripe despite the cooler 2011 vintage. A complex wine which will need some time to integrate.
PDQ94+
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9/9/2014 - sjdcellar wrote: 95 Points
our first time tasting Gandona, this was at the Evening on Pritchard Hill event. this wine blew us away with richness, subtle smoke and a eucalyptus/menthol element. Very good!
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8/28/2014 - MatthewF wrote:
From bottle at the estate with the owner, Manuel. 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from the older vines of the estate. This showed a lot of kinship to the Encosta, but with a lot more intensity and depth. Dark crushed berries with fantastic minerality. Well structured palate with great acidity all throughout. Very long finish. Overall great wine and one to put in the cellar for awhile.
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