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. 14.1% ABV. Pretty nose of red fruits, blood, flowers and minerals. Medium to full bodied with exquisite acidity. Bigger in style than I expected. Cherries, blood orange, anise and earth on the palate. The finish is long and savory. My experience with Sandlands is the the wine is generally ready to drink. I’ll make an exception here. Give this another 2-3 years in the cellar.
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?
Sandlands fared well in The 2018 Zinfandel Chronicles Power Rankings.