2016 Gandona, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley - Magnum

Manuel Pires's Gandona Estate, located on Pritchard Hill, meticulously dry-farms its Cabernet Sauvignon from steep, iron-rich volcanic soils, with a deliberate intent to harvest grapes earlier for inherent freshness. Overseen by viticulturist Jim Barbour and winemaker Philippe Melka, the 17-acre vineyard, ranging from 900 to 1100 feet in elevation, benefits from its high-altitude exposure, affording cool evening breezes and intense afternoon sun that fundamentally shapes its structural possibilities. The near-perfect 2016 vintage, characterized by a wet start followed by a moderate and consistently even ripening season with essential cool nights, allowed for optimal acid retention and the development of exceptionally fine-grained, integrated tannins. This Cabernet Sauvignon, always produced from free-run juice, offers a precise expression of its mountain site, displaying significant mid-palate density and a vibrant acidity that underpins a firm, age-worthy architectural frame.