Contra Costa County Mataro

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple of hours. The 2022 Contra Costa County pours, a deep ruby color with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with bright notes of fresh and tart, brambles and plums with licorice, flowers, and hot tarmac. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose, enhanced with a touch of black pepper. The finish is medium+; grippy and zippy. Yet another very lovely Mataro from Sandlands. Drink now to enjoy the freshness of youth and through 2037. Only 5 barrels produced.

Popped and poured, the 2021 Mataro “Contra Costa County” is like listening to Portishead’s “Dummy”: dark and haunting…but so beautifully honest about it. The wine pours a deep ruby with a purple tinge and a translucent core. Medium viscosity with some staining of the tears. On the nose, loaded with black bramble fruits and minerals with some black pepper and spices. On the palate the wine is medium+ tannin with medium+ acid. Medium alcohol. Confirming the notes on the nose. The finish…loooooong and delicious. So tightly wound at this stage of life but I love checking into them when they are young. Drink now with a lot of air and patience but best after 2027 and should be lovely through 2041.

Popped and poured; consumed over two days. No formal notes. The 2020 Mataro pours a deep garnet/purple with a nearly opaque core and some staining of the tears. Predominately dark fruited with some pepper, and minerals. The wine is dry with very good structure. Tart and so fresh at this stage! I’m going to give my remaining bottles a bit more time.

Part of a double-blind, side-by-side between the 2017 Once & Future Mataro, “Oakley Road” which also happens to be from Contra Costa County. Opened and allowed both bottles to slow-ox about three hours prior to our guests arriving. As typical with Sandlands wines, this was a pretty little thing to behold in the glass. Bright ruby with a magenta rim. The nose is vigorous with loads of fresh mixed fruits; drupes and stone fruits with a sort of middle eastern spice that immediately reminded me of the mandi rice dishes that use saffron, cumin and tumeric. Drop dead gorgeous! On the palate, fresh plums, dried herbs, a dash of pepper. The finish is long and tannic with great acid.

This is a slightly more faceted wine than the O&F at this stage. It can’t help but take over a room with its distinctive character and compelling energy. The vineyard was planted in the 1920's and only 4 barrels were produced. 13.9% alc.

Fleshed out quite a bit w air. Maybe I like these wines more than I thought. Still on the edge of shrill/underripe for me.

On the first crack it was bracingly tannic and thin on the mid, but with nice aromatics. Night two, mid-palate opened up tannins tamed down. Made a lot more sense. Really nice wine, young and needs some air.

1929 planted, sand, 8 barrels, 200 cases? There is some acid and oak that are a bit upfront. Lay this wine down for years and come back to it.

Accessible yet has stuffing to age nicely for a decade. Dark cherries and aromatic spice, serious yet delicate tannins, interwoven acidity and a moreish finish.

Curiosity got the best of me so I had to open one. These are terribly primary at the moment but still, so much fun! Light ruby color. Beautifully scented. The purest of raspberries, blackberry pie and venison. Flavors are tart brambles and wet rocks. Somewhat reminiscent of a Cru Beaujolais. Lean. Fiercely tannic. Zippy acid. Seemed to gain strength over the two days that it was open. The future should be very bright.

Has a nice bright acidity. The fruit is very dark (as expected for mourvedre) but it's also incredibly fresh. Reminds me a of a young grenache in it's freshness, but with a darker fruit profile and more weight on the palate. It will be interesting to see how this develops more character with time in the cellar.