9/26/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Nice balance, some tannins, good acid. Nice fruit up front with notes of blackberry, cherry, and raspberry, transitioning to herbal and some savory notes. 12.8% ABV. Like many of the Sandlands offerings I've tried, this was deftly made and lighter in style than one might expect.

9/23/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Notes of apple, lime zest, some salinity, with some flight floral notes. Nice complexity with good acid balance. Everything in place here, probably has at least a decade ahead of it.

9/20/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opens with concentrated notes of blackberry transitioning to toasty vanilla and baking spices. The overall impression was one of blackberry pie, though not as sweet as that. Obviously new world in style. And with plenty of oak treatment. This is perfectly drinkable and is on the sweeter side. It is 14.4% ABV and the lack of substantial tannic structure means that this might be favored by those looking for something "smooth".

9/20/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Fruit forward, with notes of cherry, strawberry, and spices transitioning to some grassy notes and some minerality, with oak influence apparent on the finish. 13.3% ABV. Holding up well at 13 years old.

9/12/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

This opens with bright fruit, blackberry, cherry, and raspberry, transitioning to herbal notes. Nice acid balance here. There's a nice finesse to this wine, and the oak treatment isn't heavy handed, as one sometimes finds with grenache-based wines. 13.4% ABV.

9/12/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opens with notes of blackberry and plum, transitioning to notes of oak, garrigue, tapenade, and earth. This is fruit forward. Tannins are largely resolved. 14.5% ABV. This is holding up well at 11 years old, and can probably go at least 5 more.

9/9/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

With Mollydooker, you're not getting subtle. And this is everything you expect in full-throttle Aussie Shiraz. Big fruit, big oak, some chocolate notes, and a velvety tongue-coating mouthfeel. If that's your sort of thing, this is well done. 15.5% ABV.

9/4/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Very nice and fruit forward, good structure, very light, with notes of raspberry, cherry and maybe even strawberry. Good balance. Lovely light red. 12.5% ABV.

8/23/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Concentrated notes of blackberry and plum, transitioning to earth, chocolate, and vanillin. More New World in style than some WA wines. 14.2% ABV. 72% Cab Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 9% Cab Franc.

8/18/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Nice, with notes of apples and citrus. Paired with food, it was buttery and rich, though against something sweeter, the acid really stood out. But was nice with pan friend trout with lemon.

8/14/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Notes of tropical fruit, honey, florals, lime zest, and some salinity on the finish. Good acid balance. Excellent with a pheasant and lima beans., 13% ABV.

8/4/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

I consumed my first bottle of this at room temperature, and the red fruit was slightly overwhelming. After reading some recommendations, I tried this second bottle slightly chilled, at cellar temperature. Slightly chilled, this drank more like a Beaujolais, fruit forward, with good acidity and some slight tannins. This seemed very versatile, working both as an aperitif or for pairing with more aggressively spiced dishes, where its fruitiness is not overwhelmed. A very interesting and distinctive wine.

8/1/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Lovely with foraged chanterelle pasta, floral notes matched well. Nice richness. Concentrated fruit. Sort of a floral white wine fruit bomb. 14.5% ABV.

7/29/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Very nice champagne with notes of apples, brioche and decent salinity. Good complexity and fine bubbles.

7/29/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Really well developed. Tannins are not overbearing. Faded fruit on the front, but a wonderful nose and back end featuring violets, tar, scorched earth and garrigue. In a great drinking window.

7/27/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Brambly and dense, with notes of blackberry, cassis, and a very herbal finish. This was still very tannic and didn't budge much through the evening. This needs time. I'm guessing 5-10 years.

7/15/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Very nice with food. Blackberry and raspberry on the open, transitioning to notes of oak, earth, and some garrigue. Good balance. 13% ABV.

7/8/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Heavier style with notes of apples, pear, and honey, transitioning to light herbal notes with some vanilla. Nice acidity keeps it fresh. 14.1% ABV.

7/5/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Very nice bottle. Notes of dark cherry transitioning to herbal and umami notes. Back end is very nice. This is lean and balanced, with good acid. 12.5% ABV.

7/2/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

In a nice place, good fruit up front, with a nice back end showcasing leather, tobacco, and some mocha. 13.5% ABV.

7/2/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

A little more dry than I expected. Slightly sweet with notes of brown sugar, honey, citrus and a pervasive nuttiness, somewhat walnut in character. The nuttiness becomes more dominant through the long finish.

6/29/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Very young and expressive. Slightly effervescent, though that blows off after on hour or so. Notes of cherries, raspberries and other fresh red fruit, with some herbal notes on the back end. Pretty. 12.5% ABV.

6/18/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

An interesting bottle. Medium weight, with some nice development, but not overly complex. On the heavier side, but well short of the faux-syrah style one sometimes encounters with more extracted Pinots.

6/12/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

This was lovely. Drank over three days. Nice fruit and good herbal notes. This is a bit fruit forward, but with nice acidity to balance the sweetness.
50% Marsanne and 50% Roussanne.

6/1/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

This still had significant tannic grip. It opened with notes of blackberry and plum, oak was readily apparent still, with tertiary notes of chocolate, vanilla and some herbal notes. 14% ABV. Unlike many Mencia wines I've tried, this one lacked that brambly fruit forward opening, instead featuring heavier and darker fruit. Even at 9 years old, this may just need more time to even out, and for the tannins to soften a bit.

5/31/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

High should fill, with some signs of seepage. This still had a wonderful nose, and fully developed beautiful tertiary notes of tobacco leaf, pencil lead and earth. The fruit has faded, so this is definitely one for fans of old wines. Those that favor fruit forward expressions of Bordeaux are likely to be disappointed and find this well over the hill.

5/31/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opens with notes of cherry and plum, transitioning to herbal notes and earthier notes of mushroom and forest floor. Nicely balanced with good acidity and structure. 13.3% ABV. I paired this aggressively with a truffled scallop in a morel-fennel bisque, and it held up wonderfully. Just another reminder that i should drink more Oregon wine.

5/14/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Rich, with floral notes along with honeycomb. Perfect wine for spring. Had it with ramp pesto pasta and it held up well.

5/3/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Very nice. Good notes of fruit, honeycomb, lime zest. Nice acidity with decent sweetness. 13% ABV.

4/16/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opens with orchard fruit, with some yeasty funkiness as well as decent salinity. Lovely.

4/11/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Intense notes of apples, apricots, honey, and a little marzipan. Nice acidity to balance the sweetness. Great wine for cheese.

4/9/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Lovely bottle paired with a baked ham. Notes of apples and pears, some herbal notes and spice on the back end, with plenty of acid to counter the fat in the ham. Delicious food wine.

3/26/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opens with orchard fruit, transitioning to some lemon zest, some salinity, and honey. A little on the sweeter side. Interesting and full bodied, this would benefit from food, particularly a hearty seafood dish.

3/25/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Nice nose of blackberry, tobacco, and graphite. Opens with layered dark fruit, blackberry, plum, with a nice elegant back end of chocolate, tobacco leaf and earth. Tertiary flavors are beginning to poke out. Was very favorably impressed by this bottle from a bit of a ho hum vintage.

3/18/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Notes of apples and pears, with good salinity, and some some herbal notes. Nice balance between acid and sweetness. Well constructed and delicious.

3/15/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

This has notes of dark cherry, kirsch, transitioning to floral and vanilla oaks. Very nicely balanced in a fruit forward and burly New World style. In a nice drinking window, which I would guess will last for 5+ more years. 14.9% ABV.

3/14/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Lighter in color, with notes of raspberry, cherry, and plum. Nice acidity and herbal back end. Fruit forward and very quaffable and pretty. 12.9% ABV.

3/11/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Notes of apples and pears, transitioning to some salinity, some herbal notes, and a little bit of crystalized ginger.

3/7/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opens with dark cherries, transitioning to notes of vanilla, cola, and herbs. Heavier style of pinot. Distinctly new world. Pretty good, but not great. 14.1% ABV.

3/7/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Some maderization, but not overly much (to my tastes). Really nice notes of orchard fruit, petrol, some nuttiness and plenty of sweetness. Obviously, well over the hill. Probably only enjoyable to those that enjoy very old wines (with all of their considerable flaws).

3/3/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Cranberry and dark cherry on the open. Back end has notes of oak, perfumed spice, and earth. Mid-weight red. Really great acidity. Tannins are still young, but not overpowering. Probably better in 5-10 years. Very interesting wine. 13.5% ABV. 100% Cinsault.

3/2/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

This is a blend of 70% zinfandel, 22% mourvedre, and 8% syrah. Opens with brambly fruit - blackberry and boysenberry, transitioning to notes of oak, earth, and coffee grounds. Zin unsurprisingly dominates here, and holds the high alcohol (16.2% ABV) in check. This bottle still had substantial tannic grip, suggesting the ability age for 5+ more years. Overall, an excellent Zin-forward, full-throttle example of Cali wine making.

2/21/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opens with notes of blackberry, plum, and dark cherry, notes of vanilla and earth on the finish. Fruit forward in the Aussie style. 15% ABV. Tannins seemed fully resolved. In a nice drinking window right now, and will probably remain so for at least 5 more years.

2/15/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Opened with notes of cherry, raspberry, and blackberry transitioning to notes of vanilla, black pepper, and herbs. Still a lot of tannins on this, and the oak influence is more prominent than in some of the other Sandlands wines. Just seemed slightly disjointed. Based on the tannins and oak influence, I probably opened this way too soon. Probably better in 5 years. 13.8% ABV.

2/13/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

A little reticent at first, eventually opened up with notes of dark cherry and blackberry, transitioning to oak with some leather and tar notes. Still had significant tannic grip. 12.5% ABV. Not sure where this is going. Tannins suggested it still has plenty of time, but the fruit seemed to be fading.

2/5/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Surprisingly well preserved. Plenty of fruit left on the front, with a lighter herbal back end and slightly drying tannins. On the downslope, but still quite nice for a 43 year old Napa Cab from a rather mediocre vintage.

2/5/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Just a lovely bottle of port, with notes of plum, chocolate, dried fig, and a nice spiciness on the finish. Really pretty with a finish that lingers. Seems like it is in a nice drinking window, but I assume that this will continue to be great for decades.

1/21/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Monster fruit up front, with blackberry, boysenberry, and dark cherry, transitioning to notes of earth, herbs, raisins, and a little smoky scorched note. Fruit forward, in a new world style. Not subtle. 16% ABV. But really nice if you like this style of wine.

1/18/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

Fruit forward with notes of blackberry, dark cherry, and vanilla, transitioning to notes of oak and earth on the finish. A little simple in a new world style. Very young at only 5 years old. Seems to have plenty of time left. 15.1 % ABV.

1/16/2023 - malbrecht wrote:

According to the label, this is a mix of 33% Mourvedre, 33% Zinfandel, 13% Petite Syrah, 12% Syrah, and 8% Tempranillo. So a Paso Robles field blend, I guess. It opens very much like a Cali Zin, fruit forward in a brambly style, with notes of blackberry and boysenberry, followed by secondary notes of oak and earth. Made in a new world style that clocks in at a burly 15.9% ABV. Still fruit and oak forward at 10 years old. This is not for everyone, but is well made for those that enjoy that style.