Lodi Zinfandel

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 2022 Sandlands Lodi Zinfandel pours a deep ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with mostly tart and ripe mixed bramble fruit: blackberries, Marionberries, mulberries, raspberry, ground black pepper, a mix of red and purple flowers, and stony earth. On the palate, the white is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and juicy. This is a fresh, zippy and utterly classic in the sense that it reminds me of how Zinfandel was made 40 years ago. Other producers in Lodi wish they could make balanced Zin like this. Wow. Drink now with glee and through 2037.

Purple, medium pigment extraction. Aromas of black currant, barrel smoke and a hint of mint-eucalyptus. Raspberry and blackberry flavors with crispness.

Popped and poured, enjoyed over two days. Best on Day 2. In the glass, the 2019 Sandlands “Lodi” is deep ruby with a translucent core. Medium+ viscosity. On the nose, high intensity with dark cherry, ripe bramble fruit, freshly cracked Tellicherry pepper, black licorice, stone, and baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the mixed fruit set, black pepper and licorice with bergamot and baking spices. The wine is so fresh with one of the sexiest textures you’ll ever encounter in a Zinfandel. The finish is savory and the black pepper note goes "on and on and on, on and on and on, checka check it out to the break of break of dawn" (to quote Naughty by Nature). This is a truly remarkable Zinfandel from Lodi.

I’m on vacation, so the afternoon demands a glass of something good. This is my first taste of a Sandlands Zinfandel from @ownrooted, who I always assumed was contractually barred from bottling Zin under his own label. Wonderfully fresh and bright with blackberry and boysenberry fruit and a hint of green herbs and black pepper. Fantastic acidity and the faintest of tannins. At 14.4% most CA Zin producers would have said it ain’t ripe, but that’s why it’s got that gulpable, juicy brightness. A perfect afternoon refresher.

Too young. Much better on day 2.

A gorgeous bouquet of bright bramble fruit, anise, and flowers. On the palate, I found this to be quite snappy! Brambles again with licorice and minerals. Medium tannins and high-ish acid. A pleasurable finish. This would work very well with a wide range of meals. At 14.4% ABV, this is very modest for a Lodi Zinfandel...and quite possibly the best I’ve ever had from this area known for its bulk rather than its quality. This proves the area’s potential with aplomb. The fruit for this bottling comes from Sandland’s own Kirschenmann Vineyard, located in the Mokelumne River AVA, which was planted 105 years ago. The soil there is mostly silica so the environment is naturally resistant to phylloxera. As a result, the vines are ungrafted and hence, own-rooted.

Quite good. Deep and rich.

An impressive first vintage of Tegan’s own zin. Lots of lush fruit, good acidity and balance. This falls stylistically between his version for Turley and say the Arnot-roberts take on this vineyard.

Fruit bomb. A little more jammy than I would expect from Sandlands.

Just delicious- fruity balanced. Worked well with tacos but would be great with all kinds of food. Really, tastes like California.