2011 Syrah

Some people just have 'it.' Like a world-class athlete or musician, Tegan Passalacqua is one of those people who is endowed with a combination of superb natural skills, passion and an indominable work ethic. When those three qualities come together, well that's when lightning can strike. That is exactly the case with these wines. Readers might recognize Passalacqua as the winemaker at Turley, where he makes a dizzying array of Zinfandels and Petite Sirahs. Sandlands is Passalacqua's own label. A student of California's viticultural and oenological history, Passalacqua focuses on heritage sites with head-trained, dry farmed and own-rooted vines. The range encompasses some of California's more eccentric grapes. In order to avoid competing with the Turley wines, there are no Zinfandels or Petite Sirahs in the Sandlands range. Sandlands is one of the most exciting debuts I have seen in California in some time. I can't recommend these wines highly enough. For now production is tiny, but If you can get on the list you won't be sorry.