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.
Crimson in color. 12.8% ABV. Unique nose of dark fruits, flowers and citrus. Medium body with medium acidity. Crisp and refreshing. Cherries, rhubarb, iron and earth on the palate. Nice length on the finish. Delightful, charming and eminently easy to drink. A throwback to an earlier era of winemaking. 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.