Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2016 Contra Costa County pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart, mostly black and blue fruit: blackberries, blueberries, plums, Montmorency cherry, purple flowers, black pepper, dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I’m very happy to have holed away some bottles from the first few years of Sandlands. Not only do I believe these older vintages are showing well, but I also believe his newer vintages will be even better. Drink now through 2031. — 2 months ago

Turd Ferguson

9.2

A little shy at first but really opens up and shows after a couple hours of air. Classic Santa Cruz Mtns Pinot. Earthy. A touch candied. Long finish. Pretty wine. 👍🏼 — 4 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

Barrel-fermented, pale lemon color, aromas of stone and tropical fruit with citrus, honeysuckle and flinty notes. On the palate flavors of peach, ripe apple, melon and lemon citrus, crisp with herb floral spice. Well balanced, lively acidity, long finish ending with fruit and wet stone character. Nice! — 5 months ago

Bryan Kesting

9.5

Drinking so well . Fun to drink alongside of the other 3. Not quite as good as the Alpine but very close. — 9 months ago

Matt

9.4

Love the high Merlot % this vintage has. There’s a plushness and supleness to the tannin that really impressed. With age the Merlot really bringing that core of sweet stewed red plum. Long, elegant, completely intact, very well-stored bottle. — 2 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.1

A tasting of nine Rhys Chardonnays spanning 2007-2019. A pre-release peek at the 2019. — 4 years ago

Brandon T

9.2

Can’t get enough of these chards. Just behind the Zephyr for me. — 5 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

Light ruby color with a garnet rim. Bright aromas of red berries, violets, rose petals, geraniums and forest floor. Ripe red cherry, strawberry, cranberry and boysenberry fruit flavors with additional notes of mushrooms, Earl Grey tea, sweet spices and dark chocolate. Pleasant hint of toasted oak on the long and linear finish. Well balanced with very fine tannins. Medium-plus body and nice density. Quite good. — 2 months ago

Joe DAscoli

9.3

Exactly what I was looking for to pair with shrimp and zucchini. Good acidity. Good weight. A bit of vanilla but not much. — 3 months ago

Steve Rura

9.0

Not really a whisky drinker, but I can appreciate this Scotch. Very woodsy and dry. Cedar with orange bitters, and oaky vanilla bean. Clean fresh finish, with a long lasting Szechuan pepper tingle and wood chips towards the end. 14 yr single malt. — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2020 vintage. A fave CA chard and producer. Medium-medium heavy body. Tasting slightly more tropical and advanced with less acidity than usual. Still absolutely delicious tho. Would like to retaste and reevaluate in 5-6 months tho. Based on 30 vintages of tasting this particular wine, betting it reconciles any tawdry, fleeting concerns that occupy my compromised palate and right quick. 01.22.25. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured, enjoyed over the course of five days and consistent throughout. The 2022 Contra Costa County pours a deep ruby color with an opaque core, medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with predominant notes of black fruit: black plum, blackberry, black cherry, some strawberry, licorice, dried green herbs, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish is medium and the fruit has an almost crunchy texture. This is such a versatile red wine and I don’t know that I could ever really get enough of it. Drink now through 2032. — 9 months ago

Neil Valenzuela

9.3

Pale ruby color. Aromas of cherry, raspberry, leather and cola. What a fantastic Burgundian Pinot. Fantastic flavors, earthy finish. — 4 years ago

Joe DAscoli

9.4

Somewhat of a dessert wine and post dinner vino. This wine held up with great fruit and complexity. Really nice follow on to 25 year old CdP and high end champagne. Held its own with good concentration and depth. — 3 months ago

Bruce Dunbar

9.2

A big wine in a big bottle that made a big group of friends very happy. The 2017 Evangelho Heritage (from magnum) is energetic with loads of sweet dark fruit. It doesn’t lack zing even though this year’s blend is short in Carignan — there are nice balancing acids and mild tannins. It is richer and riper than many vintages but still vibrant. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Consistent throughout. The 2023 “Contra Costa County” pours, a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with significant staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, raspberries, black pepper, orange zest, menthol, and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose where the orange citrus notes show a bit more prominently. The finish is medium+, bright and refreshing. 9 barrels produced. Drink now through 2038.  — 5 months ago

Ed Chin

9.2

Tons of red and dark fruit. Mainly cherries and a bit of raspberry and spice. — 8 months ago

Jess

9.2

Pale-medium ruby color.
Aromas of strawberry
Dry. Flavors of strawberry, raspberry, cherry, cinnamon, white pepper, anise, mushroom finish. Soft, supple tannins.

Intensity: 4/5
Complexity: 3/5
Balance: 5/5
Finish: 5/5 — 10 months ago

Neal Ferry

8.9

Lots of Fruit — 4 years ago

with TwiLea

Peggy Hadley

9.1

Easy drinker. Full of fruit. — 4 years ago

with Jim