Sandlands
(Santa Clara County) Grenache
Santa Clara County, Central Coast, California, USA
Popped and poured the 2021 Grenache “Santa Clara County” pours a brilliant ruby color with a transparent core and a slightly watery rim. Medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fresh, crunchy red fruits: raspberries, strawberries, Bing cherry, red flowers, cola nut, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and loaded with minerals. So fresh. So pure. Drink now and over the next 10+ years
Popped and poured the 2021 Grenache “Santa Clara County” pours a brilliant ruby color with a transparent core and a slightly watery rim. Medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with fresh, crunchy red fruits: raspberries, strawberries, Bing cherry, red flowers, cola nut, and soft baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+ and loaded with minerals. So fresh. So pure. Drink now and over the next 10+ years
Nov 17th, 2023
Purple red, dense. Eucalyptus and pomace aroma with something like VA but not quite, not surprising for a vatural fermentation. Not a defect in this context. We discussed this around the dinner table but couldn’t pin it down. Blackberry and very fresh flavors. After 30 minutes, red fruit flavors with a hint of prune emerge. Spicy aftertaste. A very different but tasty expression of Grenache
Purple red, dense. Eucalyptus and pomace aroma with something like VA but not quite, not surprising for a vatural fermentation. Not a defect in this context. We discussed this around the dinner table but couldn’t pin it down. Blackberry and very fresh flavors. After 30 minutes, red fruit flavors with a hint of prune emerge. Spicy aftertaste. A very different but tasty expression of Grenache
Sep 4th, 2023
Super pleasing. Great texture not over the top in any way. Very subtle and screams ‘Grenache’ from the get go
Super pleasing. Great texture not over the top in any way. Very subtle and screams ‘Grenache’ from the get go
Jan 23rd, 2023The bottle was opened about three hours prior to dinner, splash decanted and then returned to the bottle. Pours a bright ruby color. On the nose, red cherry and strawberry fruits; comes across a bit alpine? Minerals and other light herbs somewhat nod the mountains...which I guess makes some sense considering the location of Besson Vineyard (the source of the fruit, just outside of the Santa Cruz AVA). This is a Grenache endowed with undeniable structure. The acid is obvious immediately however, it takes a few hours for the tannin monster to show up. This would benefit from a handful of years on the cellar. The Besson Vineyard was planted in 1910. The folks at Birichino Winery were willing to share 1.5 tons of their fruit. 3.5 barrels produced.
The bottle was opened about three hours prior to dinner, splash decanted and then returned to the bottle. Pours a bright ruby color. On the nose, red cherry and strawberry fruits; comes across a bit alpine? Minerals and other light herbs somewhat nod the mountains...which I guess makes some sense considering the location of Besson Vineyard (the source of the fruit, just outside of the Santa Cruz AVA). This is a Grenache endowed with undeniable structure. The acid is obvious immediately however, it takes a few hours for the tannin monster to show up. This would benefit from a handful of years on the cellar. The Besson Vineyard was planted in 1910. The folks at Birichino Winery were willing to share 1.5 tons of their fruit. 3.5 barrels produced.
Nov 1st, 2020
