TN: 2018 Sandlands Cinsault (USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi)

B_Buzzini · March 16, 2020, 12:06am

2018 Sandlands Cinsault - USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi (3/15/2020)
12.3 abv from 134yr old vines…open in bottle for an hour, slightly chilled. LOVED the 18 Turley version…went through those too quick! The Sandlands Cinsault seems slightly darker, and has a deeper floral and earth spice to it. Still…Cru Bojo brightness…vibrant fresh crushed red fruits…raspberry, cranberry, cherry, wild strawberry…racy and tarted up nicely with cherry skin and blood orange acidity…has a sheen polish and silkiness…yet crunchy saline minerality and vine struggle. BUT what makes this wine is the pretty perfumed florals…dried roses, fresh cherry tart, and sandalwood spice! Intoxicating…more complex than the Turley…and a true joy to drink! (94 pts.)

Brian_Tuite · March 16, 2020, 12:44am

Nice! Tegan tasted me on the ‘19 Turley earlier this week and I loved it. Made a point if pulling the Sandlands for a look. You beat me to the punch! Thanks for the note.

larry_schaffer · March 16, 2020, 2:11am

Sounds great, Buzz . . .

Gonna have to do a tasting featuring this one, the Turley, and perhaps one of mine as an ‘outlier’ since it doesn’t come from that vineyard but I think does a pretty good job showing off that variety!

Cheers.

Rich_Brown · March 16, 2020, 3:36am

Just awesome Buzz. Your notes are consistently some of my favorite to read - keep em coming buddy!

B_Buzzini · March 16, 2020, 4:17am

I appreciate that Rich!

S_Rash · March 16, 2020, 4:43am

Great note! I’ve been trying to get my hands on a bottle for awhile

David_Bu3ker · March 16, 2020, 9:37am

Looking forward to trying this once my bottles get here post craziness.

Markus_S · March 16, 2020, 12:27pm

Thanks for taking one for the team!

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · March 18, 2020, 12:03am

Agree with much of Rich’s note. Pop and pour, only rested a few days. Love Sandlands, real special.

M_Dildine · March 18, 2020, 12:46am

Vineyard? Bechthold Vineyard?

williamwhelan · March 18, 2020, 12:49am

Just awesome. Can’t wait to try mine as soon as I’m allowed up at my warehouse!

AD_Northup · March 18, 2020, 1:30am

These came yesterday for me…just want to make it to Friday

AlexS · March 24, 2020, 12:11am

Holy man.

This is awesome.

Unfortunately, unable to access my offsite or passive right now so I’m saying “fuck it” and drinking bottles as they come in (perfect timing for shipping season!). Since I have 2 bottles of the Cinsault, decided to pop one tonight and all I can say is Brian’s note hits the nail on the head, just intoxicating juice. Might be my new fave next to Tegan’s Trousseau, which this most resembles stylistically, imo.

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · March 24, 2020, 12:54am

Red table wine is good too, wife loves the nose.

AlexS · March 24, 2020, 1:14am

I had that last week, was super delicious and yet this is somehow even better!

No comment on your nose.

B_Buzzini · March 25, 2020, 7:05pm

This might have just surpassed their Chenin Blancs as my favorite Sandlands wine!

Rich_Brown · March 25, 2020, 9:26pm

Wow, that’s huge praise buddy! I might have to open one of these soon!

Tom_G_l_a_s_g_o_w · March 27, 2020, 5:08pm

The nose wasn’t as remarkable as the Cinsault. My nose probably isn’t as good, maybe partly due to former Nasonex use.

AD_Northup · April 12, 2020, 12:36am

Just opened one of these. The fruits are definitely quite vibrant, but for me I’m getting a bit of an “Oaked Hawaiian Punch” feeling, that I would probably be all in on (goes down so easy) if it didn’t have that specific flavor connotation in my mind…will see where it goes over the next few hours/day.

Edit: the overpowering sweetness is slowly dropping off…this is getting really awesome

brigcampbell · April 12, 2020, 2:25am

Exactly what I was going to ask!

Must be bechthold, no…

That’s a killer vineyard. Can get a little ripe but when they say old vines they’re not kidding.