Sandlands Vineyards
Sonoma County Chardonnay
Sonoma County, California, USA
My first experience with Tegan’s Chardonnay and I nerded out on this one. The fruit for this wine was the last harvest from the “Chuy” vineyard, a dry-farmed mountain vineyard at 1000ft elevation with 45yr old vines. It was particularly fun for me because Ketan Mody also harvested Chardonnay from Chuy in 2018 to make a one-off Chardonnay under his Beta label. Both are delicious expressions of the variety. My notes on this one below:
Popped and poured. A very brilliant color reminds me of a yellow diamond and beautifully transparent with medium viscosity. On the nose, kumquat, passion fruit, and lime. Slightly reductive. On the palate, tropical fruit and saline minerals with the silkiest of textures. Medium+ acid helps deliver a long, satisfying finish. Lovely now but could probably cellar for a bit too. If only I had been allocated more than one bottle.
My first experience with Tegan’s Chardonnay and I nerded out on this one. The fruit for this wine was the last harvest from the “Chuy” vineyard, a dry-farmed mountain vineyard at 1000ft elevation with 45yr old vines. It was particularly fun for me because Ketan Mody also harvested Chardonnay from Chuy in 2018 to make a one-off Chardonnay under his Beta label. Both are delicious expressions of the variety. My notes on this one below:
Popped and poured. A very brilliant color reminds me of a yellow diamond and beautifully transparent with medium viscosity. On the nose, kumquat, passion fruit, and lime. Slightly reductive. On the palate, tropical fruit and saline minerals with the silkiest of textures. Medium+ acid helps deliver a long, satisfying finish. Lovely now but could probably cellar for a bit too. If only I had been allocated more than one bottle.
Very acid driven. Some citrus, minerals.
Very acid driven. Some citrus, minerals.
Feb 28th, 2022
Much softer than his Chenins, but still made with extreme care. Delicious.
Much softer than his Chenins, but still made with extreme care. Delicious.
Sep 25th, 2021
It’s like the greatest hits of all the various chardonnay expressions but still very Cali.
It’s like the greatest hits of all the various chardonnay expressions but still very Cali.
Mar 16th, 2021
Oh, how I’ve missed you. Has some similarities to the Chenin, but obviously lighter bodied, higher acid, and everything good.
Oh, how I’ve missed you. Has some similarities to the Chenin, but obviously lighter bodied, higher acid, and everything good.
Aug 21st, 2020
Orchard fruit, lemon curd, mineral ⚡️
Orchard fruit, lemon curd, mineral ⚡️
Mar 9th, 2020
Round. Ripe yellow apple. Slightly honeyed finish. Similar to his chenins but not as fresh.
Round. Ripe yellow apple. Slightly honeyed finish. Similar to his chenins but not as fresh.
Feb 22nd, 2021
