Tegan Passalacqua works his butt off, and he is one of our country's most gifted vignerons. He makes all of the wines at Turley, one of our country's most esteemed producers, but in his "free time," he also runs his own little side hustle.
Sandlands is that hustle, and the focus here is on old vines grown in sandy soils. Tegan's '22 Lodi Red blend contains equal parts Zinfandel, Cinsault, and Carignan, and I'm quite taken with it. It's a perfect taste of what American wine can be, and I hope more passionate folks like Tegan continue to put out wines like this.
Rated a modest 93 points by Vinous Media, it's a big old glass of joyful, old vine, California wine made by a guy who understands the history, traditions, and people of the state's oldest growing zones.
2022 Sandlands Lodi Red Blend: Why should you buy it?
- The vineyard sources on this are off-the-charts! 1/3 each Kirschenemann Zin, Bechtold Cinsault, and Spenker Ranch Carignan. These are some of the oldest vineyards in the US!
- "Aromatic, pliant and wonderfully persistent, the 2022 is superb. It's really and Ode to Lodi. Deep and structured, with tons of character, 2022 is exceptional in every way - and at this price? Absurd." - Vinous Media
- Drink a little less Cab with your steaks and stews. Nothing against Cabernet Sauvignon, but there are other BIG reds that deserve your attention. This is one of them!
Drink this powerful red blend with everything from steak and lamb chops to cassoulet and slow-braised stews. YUM!
