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.  — a month ago

David Shaw

9.1

Fine light drinking red with an assortment of heirloom varietals you would see in a Sandlands release. Down the middle table red style with good acid but lighter in alcohol and tannins. — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Sandlands Lodi Zinfandel pours a deep ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, mulberries, raspberry, ground black pepper, a mix of red and purple flowers, and stony earth. On the palate, the white is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and juicy. This is a fresh, zippy and utterly classic in the sense that it reminds me of how Zinfandel was made 40 years ago. Other producers in Lodi wish they could make balanced Zin like this. Wow. Drink now with glee and through 2037. — 6 months ago

Jay Kline

9.1

This is the last time that Tegan will offer this Mencía from the MacIntyre Estate in Sonoma; he only made it once before. No other details have been shared so I’m not really certain as to why. The wine, however, is quite lovely and very much the Mencía as I have come to know from my countless experiences with Raul Pérez and Palacios from Bierzo.

Popped and poured. This was enjoyed over the course of two days; marginally better on Day 2. The 2022 Mencía pours a deep ruby/purple color with a transparent core and a magenta rim; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful with fresh, tart blackberries, granite, purple flowers, teriyaki and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium; lean and loaded with minerals. Drink now through 2032. — a year ago

David Shaw

9.1

Purple red, moderate pigment extraction. 12.1% alc/vol Sweet cherry aroma with a hint of plum and black currant. Raspberry with some strawberry flavor which emerges five minutes after initial pour. Aftertaste of white pepper with a hint of spearmint. Good mouthfeel though not round, light body, light on seed tannin though there is moderate skin tannin on the aftertaste. “Minimum intervention “ is this winemaker’s style. Akin to Sandlands but different. Not to everyone’s taste but she is a pioneer winemaker to watch — 2 years ago

Jay Kline

9.0

My second of two bottles allocated to me. The first was flawed with TCA; a huge bummer. This bottle, however was perfect. The 2019 “Lodi” pours a very pretty ruby color with translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. ON the nose, medium intensity with red fruit and floral aromas with some underbrush and dusty earth aromas. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acid and medium- tannins. The bright red fruits are confirmed with forest strawberry and raspberries and wet stone minerals. There is an overwhelming impression of freshness that so many of the Sandlands wines possess. Charming stuff really. Drink now and over the next 5 years or so. — 3 years ago

Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two hours. The 2022 pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart orchard fruit: passion fruit, lemon, sea spray, white flowers, lanolin and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with high acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ with a wooly texture and lovely minerals. Drinking now through 2037. — 2 months ago

Andrew

9.6

2014 drunk in early 2025. This has finally hit its stride. Deep, leathery, savory qualities with rich dark fruit and a solid tannic grip. I’m pretty bummed that this was my last bottle.  — 3 months ago

David Shaw

9.2

Deep purple red, high pigment extraction. Bright raspberry and blackberry flavors, viscous body, smooth on initial pouring. After an hour, plum flavor and some light smoke wood emerges with a light coarse skin astringency. — 6 months ago

Andrew

9.0

2015 vintage drink in 2024. Still lovely, even if it’s lost a bit of edge. — 7 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of an hour. The 2021 Mataro “Napa County” pours a deep ruby/purple with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful showing abundant, gorgeous dark fruits: blackberry and marionberry, purple flowers, cocoa, black pepper, stony minerals and soft baking spices. In the palate, medium+ tannins with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose and there is a long, spicy finish. FWIW, I typically feel the Sandlands Mataros need a bit of time in the cellar. This version from the Brandlin Vineyard is delicious and already pretty easy to enjoy. Drink now with some patience but this can easily age for 15-20 years. — a year ago

Erik Longabardi

9.3

Lovely as usual — 3 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.0

Too early to open—good but should be much more interesting in a few years. — 3 years ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

Balanced and vibrant. Yay Carignane! — 2 months ago

with Dan, Rebecca and 1 other

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of 90min. The 2022 Coombsville pours a deep garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of tart and ripe dark and red fruits: black brambles, plum, chocolate covered cherries, purple flowers, stony, iron rich earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. A fresh take on a classic, old school Cali Merlot. Delicious! Drink now through 2037. — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.0

Served alongside a Thai tea Basque cheesecake with passion fruit ganache. I had been wanting to try this Angelica from Sandlands since I was allocated this one lonely bottle. I’m rarely much of a dessert wine guy but time and place can get me in the mood. This was one of those occasions. The 2020 Angelica is all about the boozy apples and pears; a sort of Christmas fruit cake of a wine. I realize that this is meant to be a throwback to the way wines were made in California way back in the day but this was a little tough for me to really love. That being said, I would enjoy another opportunity with it. It would probably live forever and maybe it needs another decade to really flesh out? — 6 months ago

David Shaw

9.2

Ruby red, moderate to high pigment extraction. Red fruit aromas, cherry flavor mostly, strawberry and floral finish with light seed tannins, on the tactile side. After 15 minutes, big tannic backbone emerges, seeds and skin contact. Wood apparent after an hour. Needs time to open and worthy of longer cellaring than I gave it. Sad, that. Almost smooth and drinkable after 24 hours, though some of us can navigate those heavy tannin levels just fine. — 8 months ago

Sam Wood

9.2

Merlot, Cab, CF, 2% Barbera!? Slightly charred blue fruit and cherry lozenge. Balance, beautiful acids, and 12.5%abv just fresh fresh fresh Long Island wine. The Sandlands Trousseau is disappointing compared to this. So much character and balance. — 2 years ago

Caleb Krell

9.4

Crisp, sharp- perfectly balanced acidity. Just beautiful. — 3 years ago

Lee Lightfoot

9.2

Bring me more. Two of my favorite varietals in one place. Smashing. — 3 years ago