Sandlands is the personal project of Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua. Tegan is the Winemaker and Vineyard Manager at Turley. The line-up encompasses some of the forgotten classic California varieties, primarily grown in decomposed granite from regions and vineyards that have been farmed for many generations but have remained the outliers of California viticulture. The wines made at Sandlands include Syrah, Trousseau, Carignane, Mataro and Chenin Blanc.
Sourced from a Contra Costa County vineyard that dates back almost 100 years.
Purple in color. 12.9% ABV. Savory nose of red and black fruits, earth and pepper. Medium to full bodied with exquisite acidity. Rustic and earthy with tart fruits. Black cherry, salmonberry, earth and black pepper on the palate. The finish is long and spicy. One of the better stand alone bottles of Carignane that I can recall. Drink over the next 3-5 years.
My rating: 92 points.
Seriously consider signing up for the Sandlands mailing list. Tegan has a model of unique wines at extremely fair prices from overlooked vineyards. What more can you ask for?
Sandlands fared well in The 2018 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.