Sandlands
Contra Costa County Mataro
Contra Costa County, San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Dense purple red. Aromas of caramel, vanilla. Flavors of blueberry, blackberry, eucalyptus on finish. Moderate to strong skin astringency, mild seed bitterness on finish. Light crispness, high pigment extraction yet light to moderate alcohol given its tannin structure. 13.5% alc/vol. Age worthy but I enjoyed it “young”. A special wine to lay down and taste periodically so buy several bottles if you can. After two or three hours, mineral character emerges throughout the middle and finish. A mild tar-like flavor and muddied tannin persist in the finish and aftertaste. Finally the berry flavors recede into a more integrated mildly tart fruitiness. Interesting dynamics. It’s not a fast fade, rather something more savory and structured emerges
Dense purple red. Aromas of caramel, vanilla. Flavors of blueberry, blackberry, eucalyptus on finish. Moderate to strong skin astringency, mild seed bitterness on finish. Light crispness, high pigment extraction yet light to moderate alcohol given its tannin structure. 13.5% alc/vol. Age worthy but I enjoyed it “young”. A special wine to lay down and taste periodically so buy several bottles if you can. After two or three hours, mineral character emerges throughout the middle and finish. A mild tar-like flavor and muddied tannin persist in the finish and aftertaste. Finally the berry flavors recede into a more integrated mildly tart fruitiness. Interesting dynamics. It’s not a fast fade, rather something more savory and structured emerges
Oct 23rd, 2026
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course a few hours. The 2024 Contra Costa County pours a ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful and fresh with notes of bright tart, brambles, black cherry, black pepper, purple flowers, some black pepper and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose. This finish is medium+ and loaded with minerals. Distinctive and full of energy. Drink now through 2044+
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course a few hours. The 2024 Contra Costa County pours a ruby/purple color with a translucent core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is youthful and fresh with notes of bright tart, brambles, black cherry, black pepper, purple flowers, some black pepper and inorganic earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from nose. This finish is medium+ and loaded with minerals. Distinctive and full of energy. Drink now through 2044+
Jun 28th, 2026