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, Chenin Blanc and at long last a Zinfandel from Kirschenmann Vineyard.
Kirschenmann Vineyard is situated on the East Side of Lodi’s Mokelumne River AVA and was planted in 1915.
Bright red in color. 14.4% ABV. Gorgeous nose of red fruits, anise and flowers. Medium body with perfect acidity. Bright, juicy fruits in spades. Strawberry, raspberry, earth and pepper on the palate. Exceptional length on the finish. Just a glorious outlier in the Sandlands portfolio as this more closely resembles some of the wines Tegan makes at Turley. Best over the next 3-5 years.
My rating: 93 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?