Jay Kline

9.1

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days. Best on Day 3. The 2023 Coombsville Merlot pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of black plums, black cherries, cocoa, purple flowers, dry inorganic earth, and old wood. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+; fresh and juicy. Early days but fun to try while the energy is so high. Drink now through 2043. — 3 days ago

Jonathan Wall

9.1

Started out sharp and tart… but after a few hours balanced out into a beautiful wine. Floral dark berries. Medium everything in a good way. — 5 months ago

David Shaw

9.0

Purple, slightly cloudy. Blackberry and graphite in nose and mouth, light alcohol in the house style. Light seed tannin bitterness.. Only allocated one bottle. Beef ragu overwhelmed the wine, so I’d advise drinking it on its own first. Still not sure what this varietal should taste like, even with two hours decanting. Gotta drink more of these — 7 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

8.9

Weeknight steak wine — 9 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Delicious. Best Cali Chenin at this point — 12 days ago

romo

9.0

White Madeira with a scotch note and orange zest. A nice science project. — 6 months ago

Raul Puga

9.3

Really good. — 8 months ago

romo

9.2

Called Montepulciano. Grippy still with sweet basil and sweeter fruit. — 24 days ago

Clay Bullwinkel

9.3

Excellent well balance Zin — 5 months ago

Jay Kline

9.2

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Delicious throughout. The 2016 Contra Costa County pours a deep, slightly hazy garnet/purple with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart, mostly black and blue fruit: blackberries, blueberries, plums, Montmorency cherry, purple flowers, black pepper, dry gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. I’m very happy to have holed away some bottles from the first few years of Sandlands. Not only do I believe these older vintages are showing well, but I also believe his newer vintages will be even better. Drink now through 2031. — 6 months ago