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.
Purple in color. 12.6% ABV. Savory nose of red and black fruits, citrus, blood and earth. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity. Tart and earthy. Cranberry, bacon fat, iron and earth on the palate. Medium length on the finish. Unique wine that is easy to drink despite being far afield of what one would expect from a California Syrah. Best over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 90 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.