romo

9.3

Watermelon salad w fresh cracked pepper. California dreaming. — 8 months ago

Brit Young

9.0

Very good! I like Grenache, very similar to last night’s. Light bodied, fruit forward. — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

From arguably the oldest vines in California, the Mission vines at Deaver Ranch were planted by John James Davis in 1854. While the Mission variety may be considered obscure by today’s standards, back in the day, it was the common variety being cultivated in California. It’s a versatile variety which served multiple purposes. Anymore, it’s rare to find a serious dry wine made with Mission. Thankfully, Tegan Passalacqua has been known to occasionally make such a wine from these historic plantings.

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours. The 2019 pours a pale garnet color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of confected cherry, watermelon Jolly Rancher®️, strawberry, rhubarb, semi-dried hay and soft minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium. There is something unexplainable about how remarkable this wine is. There’s humility to it A wine full of wisdom. I wish I had more to try down the road alas, I was only allocated a single bottle. However, I am so grateful for the one and to be able to share it with some old friends and some new friends. Drink now through 2034+. — 9 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. — 3 years ago

Caleb Krell

9.4

Crisp, sharp- perfectly balanced acidity. Just beautiful. — 4 years ago

Caleb Krell

9.4

Sharp. Just so good. Balanced. — 4 years ago

with Marilyn

Raul Puga

9.3

WOW. Well done Tegan. So delicious — 8 months ago

Raul Puga

9.4

Delicious. One of the better domestic Cinsault’s I’ve ever had — 8 months ago

Jay Kline

9.3

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2023 RTW Lodi pours a bright ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with notes of tart and ripe mixed fruits: blackberries, blueberries, strawberry, red rope licorice, flowers, dried green herbs, sandalwood and dry stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Best wine from Lodi. Incredible versatility. It just gets better and better. Bravo! Drink now through 2033+. — 8 months 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. — a year 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. — 2 years ago

Lee Lightfoot

9.2

Bring me more. Two of my favorite varietals in one place. Smashing. — 4 years ago

Alder Yarrow

Wine Blogger Vinography

9.1

I’m on vacation, so the afternoon demands a glass of something good. This is my first taste of a Sandlands Zinfandel from @ownrooted, who I always assumed was contractually barred from bottling Zin under his own label. Wonderfully fresh and bright with blackberry and boysenberry fruit and a hint of green herbs and black pepper. Fantastic acidity and the faintest of tannins. At 14.4% most CA Zin producers would have said it ain’t ripe, but that’s why it’s got that gulpable, juicy brightness. A perfect afternoon refresher. — 5 years ago

Brit Young

9.4

Syrahs might be my new favorite. Deep, rich, velvety smooth. Shared with Adam and Amanda with their homemade pizza! — 8 months ago

Andrew

9.0

2017 drunk in 2025. Rich and delicious; but maybe a bit flabby. — 8 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.  — 9 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. — a year ago

Caleb Krell

9.5

Earthy, fruity, spectacular — 2 years 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 — 3 years ago

Joe Weinberger

9.3

Wish I didn’t have only one bottle of this 😢—in a perfect spot right now. — 5 years ago