The 2018 Encosta is such a beautiful and expressive wine. A dollop of Cabernet Franc gives the 2018 gorgeous aromatic lift. Medium in body, with a spine of tannin, the 2018 is going to need a few years to come around, but it is a very attractive second wine from Gandona. I would open the 2018 in advance, as it really blossoms with air.
The 2018 Gandona is superb. Inky dark fruit, gravel, spice, chocolate, menthol, and licorice infuse the 2018 with striking layers of complexity, all with firm mountain tannins that give the wine shape, energy, and drive.
The 2016 is a real powerhouse. I can't remember tasting a wine from this property with so much structure and tannin. Readers should plan on giving the 2018 plenty of air. I found the 2018 only blossomed a number of hours after opening. - By Antonio Galloni in December 2020