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.
From a vineyard planted in the 1920s in what is classified as Dehli blow sand.
Purple in color. 12.5% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, citrus, soil and flowers. Medium body with medium acidity. Crisp and fresh with earthy, tart fruits. Cherry, blood orange, earth and a hint of pepper on the palate. The finish is long and smooth. Delicious and the bottle disappeared in the blink of an eye. Best over the next 2-3 years.
My rating: 91 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?