Sandlands Vineyards Carignane

Popped and poured, consumed over the course of a few hours. The 2020 Carignane from Sandlands pours a deep ruby/magenta color with a translucent core. Medium viscosity with very light staining of the tears. On the nose, raspberries, licorice, and the smell of wet asphalt on a warm day. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium, bordering medium+ acid; confirming the fruit and non-fruit character on the nose. The finish is medium+ with loads of minerals. The words “fresh” and “pure” are two words that come to mind; two words rarely associated Lodi and yet, here we are. Leave it to Teagan…just wow. The source of the fruit comes from an own-rooted vineyard in the Mokelumne River AVA that was planted 120 years ago…which is crazy. This drinks so well right now with some air.

My first experience with the 2020 Carignan. The wine pours a beautiful, bright ruby, color with medium+ viscosity, and a transparent core. Despite the transparency, there is decent staining of of the tears. No signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is expressive with very pretty aromatics. Dark fruits, red flowers, and stony earth mostly. On the palate, the fruits are more red in profile with crunchy cranberries and slightly tart raspberries. Loads of minerals. Medium tannin with medium plus acid. The signature Sandlands freshness presides. The finish…is a touch bitter…but the overall package is there. It’s super primary and crushable now but should be pretty fun to drink through 2030.

My second of two bottles allocated to me. The first was flawed with TCA; a huge bummer. This bottle, however was perfect. The 2019 “Lodi” pours a very pretty ruby color with translucent core; medium viscosity with light staining of the tears. ON the nose, medium intensity with red fruit and floral aromas with some underbrush and dusty earth aromas. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acid and medium- tannins. The bright red fruits are confirmed with forest strawberry and raspberries and wet stone minerals. There is an overwhelming impression of freshness that so many of the Sandlands wines possess. Charming stuff really. Drink now and over the next 5 years or so.

Dark and savory mountain fruit without the weight.

Pale, salmon color in the glass with an energetic, fruity nose with just enough Earth to ground it. Drinks super easy and something that I'd love more of

Perhaps my highest scoring, non-complex wine ever. Succulent comes to mind. Just pure, freaking delicious and utterly more-ish.

13' Sandlands Carignane Mendocino Co. Color- Persian red/ Light purple core. Nose- If you were to sell a wine just based upon the smell of it. ( Violet, lavender)
Palate- Not getting much on the front of the palate. Mid/back palate- Tart raspberries, strawberry, ripped plum, dusted chocolate, very light earthiness, mineral taste ? , soft tannins on the finish . Lengthy finish. Well made & balanced wine. Easy to drink.
Edit- Decant it! This will spring to life. Would love to revisit this wine again..

I dig pretty much everything that Tegan does with Sandlands, but my favorites have to be the Carignanes. Really enjoyable and just entering its drinking window.

Still underwhelmed by this. I really want to live it but it lacks any joyous fruit. It does manage to conjure some of the focused savory and mineral tone of old vines Carignan so at t least there is that.

Seems thin and a bit sharp. I'm all for balanced acidity, but if the underlying fruit is not ripe...