Sandlands Cinsault 2023

Sandlands Cinsault 2023

Sandlands
$40.00

Grape: Cinsault
Vintage: 2023
Type: Red

This natural red wine is a pure varietal bottling of Cinsault crafted by Tegan Passalacqua from old, dry-farmed bush vines in California. Sourced from historical plots characterized by deep alluvial sand, the vineyard yields small quantities of fragrant, savory fruit. The hand-picked grapes undergo a traditional low-intervention fermentation driven by native vineyard wild yeasts with a large portion of whole bunches. It matures in seasoned French oak barrels to permit the components to integrate naturally.

It pours a translucent ruby color, opening with an inviting bouquet of red currant, wild strawberry, cranberry, and dried flowers. On the palate, the light-bodied frame is exceptionally fluid and weightless, focusing on a vibrant, spice-tinged red fruit presentation. Fine-grained, soft tannins provide an understated structural grip that shapes the fluid core cleanly. It finishes dry and crisp, leaving a savory trail of dried herbs.

Sandland is Tegan Passalacqua's project devoted to California's old, often overlooked vineyard heritage. As vineyard manager for Turley, Passalacqua has deep experience with ancient vines, and Sandlands channels that knowledge into parcels planted to varieties such as Chenin Blanc, Carignane, Mataro, Trousseau, Zinfandel and Mission. Many sites are own-rooted, dry-farmed and planted on sandy granitic or decomposed soils that helped them survive phylloxera. The wines are made simply, with restrained alcohol and little new oak, showing a quieter California built from old vines, immigrant varieties and historical continuity rather than modern fashion.