Sandlands
Lodi Assyrtiko
Lodi, Central Valley, California, USA
2023 drunk in 2025. Rich and flavorful, but a bit flabby. Much more like Sandlands Chenin Blanc than a Greek Assyrtiko. Not my favorite.
2023 drunk in 2025. Rich and flavorful, but a bit flabby. Much more like Sandlands Chenin Blanc than a Greek Assyrtiko. Not my favorite.
Mar 27th, 2025
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Better on Day 2. The 2023 pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe tropical fruit: pineapple, passionfruit, starfruit, lime, wax and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An awesome pairing with cedar plank salmon. One foudre, one puncheon and one barrel produced. Drink now through 2038.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Better on Day 2. The 2023 pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with notes of ripe tropical fruit: pineapple, passionfruit, starfruit, lime, wax and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. An awesome pairing with cedar plank salmon. One foudre, one puncheon and one barrel produced. Drink now through 2038.
Mar 25th, 2025
Peachy aromatics. Chenin-esque texture. Little hot at 13.6%. A far cry from Santorini but an interesting wine nonetheless. First time trying this producer. ≈$30 on the shelf.
Peachy aromatics. Chenin-esque texture. Little hot at 13.6%. A far cry from Santorini but an interesting wine nonetheless. First time trying this producer. ≈$30 on the shelf.
Jul 15th, 2024Having spent some time in Greece last year, I had access to all the Assyrtiko my heart could desire and it turned out, my heart was nearly insatiable. So when I learned that Sandlands was going to be releasing an Assyrtiko from Lodi, I perked up.
The 2022 pours a pale straw with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with moderate intensity and notes of lime, slightly underripe Bartlett pear, passion fruit, and tarragon. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and slightly saline with a lingering, waxy texture. While this doesn’t have the intensity of the best Assyrtiko from Santorini (or Tinos), it’s varietally correct with the structure and texture I expect. I dig it! Drink now and through 2032. Only one single 1000L foudre and one single barrel were produced from vines grafted to existing rootstock in the Stampede Vineyard (Clements Hills), just a few years back.
Having spent some time in Greece last year, I had access to all the Assyrtiko my heart could desire and it turned out, my heart was nearly insatiable. So when I learned that Sandlands was going to be releasing an Assyrtiko from Lodi, I perked up.
The 2022 pours a pale straw with medium viscosity. On the nose, the wine is developing with moderate intensity and notes of lime, slightly underripe Bartlett pear, passion fruit, and tarragon. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium and slightly saline with a lingering, waxy texture. While this doesn’t have the intensity of the best Assyrtiko from Santorini (or Tinos), it’s varietally correct with the structure and texture I expect. I dig it! Drink now and through 2032. Only one single 1000L foudre and one single barrel were produced from vines grafted to existing rootstock in the Stampede Vineyard (Clements Hills), just a few years back.
Crisp and light but full of flavour- light stone fruit (apricot maybe), floral, and with a nice salinity
Crisp and light but full of flavour- light stone fruit (apricot maybe), floral, and with a nice salinity
Oct 15th, 2024
Bright lemon, saline, waxy texture, fairly long 😍
Bright lemon, saline, waxy texture, fairly long 😍
Jun 5th, 2024
Really really really good. Fresh. Good acid. Lemon/lime. Nose is soft. Less floral than Greek versions.
Really really really good. Fresh. Good acid. Lemon/lime. Nose is soft. Less floral than Greek versions.
May 22nd, 2024
