My first bottle of the 2019 Contra Costa County “Red Table Wine”. The “Red Table Wine” designation from Sandlands is a bottling that I look forward to with each Sandlands release.
This years version from CCC pours a very pretty translucent ruby with a magenta rim and medium viscosity. Medium+ intensity. Initially, I found the nose to be a little reductive but the wine really begins to express itself and come alive after about 20 minutes of air. As with previous iterations, there’s an overwhelming impression of freshness. An extremely bright mixed fruits set with red, blue and black fruits, red and purple flowers and spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Again freshness is everywhere. Confirming the mixed fruits which comes across extremely bright and almost crunchy. The wine is spicy with lovely minerals with an almost crushed gravel characteristic too. Finish is medium+ and works so well with a variety of meals. The body seems to gain some weight with air. Good now but probably better in 2025. 65% Carignan and 35% Mataro. 11 barrels produced. — 3 years ago
Enjoyed with a Cantonese beef stew, dad's recipe. Decanted 3 hours before dinner and it still held tight graphite, cedar, and black fruit notes. A touch closed up or young right now, will revisit my next bottle in 5 to 10 years — 2 months ago
2014 drunk in 2024. Last bottle of this vintage. Still holds up and has more time in it. Lovely subtlety that does open up a bit with time.  — 7 months ago
The Salvador vnd from contra costa is always one of my favorite turley wines. So expressive from those sandy soils.
On the nose it could be nothing other than zin. It is so suave and silky. Not a hard edge to be found. Just a really easy and pleasing bottle of wine. Like a living poet, it requires little fanfare. — 3 years ago
Wanting to open one of these for a friend who is a fan, I pop and poured half the bottle, then corked and enjoyed the rest later in the evening.
I had the D&R Rodnick Mourvèdre early this year and was a bit underwhelmed. This Evangelho was much more lively, fresh and floral. This reflects much more of the D&R style (carbonic flair, crunchy bright fruits) than it does varietal (not meaty/savory in any way). Translucent purple in the glass with violets and sweet carbonic aromatics. The palate sports underripe blue and black fruits up front but the finish turns very herb crusted black cherry and dried cranberry. Zippy acidity. Fun and easy to drink. — 4 years ago
Pale lemon. One the nose- apple, pear, peach, citrus, and a grassy/herbaceous note that I can’t put my finger on. Burst of grapefruit and pineapple with some minerality on the palate. Medium body. Nice, zesty acidity. Was a bit tight at first out of the bottle. Best to let it breathe a bit and losen up some. Fun and cheeky wine! — a year ago
A very reliable producer. Plenty left under the hood. Half bottle delight. Tons of sediment and the cork was intact but crumbled upon opening. Stewed for an hour and then began to be ready. Rounded succulent mature fruit a bit smoky and great balance/mouthfeel. — 9 months ago
Bob McDonald
My last bottle of the 2014 Bullnose and consistent with previous notes here on Delectable. Hawkes Bay is one of the best districts in NZ for Syrah and Cabernet. Hasn’t really evolved much from the first of 4 bottles I had in 2021. Still has the trademark black pepper and spice in what is essentially an elegant medium bodied wine without the fuller bodied blackberry and tar of nearby Trinity Hill Homage. — a month ago