One of my favorite vineyards from one of my favorite wineries.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, some bramble and a bit pf pepper.  Wonderful texture.  Lush but with great energy.  Deep but unwinds in the glass.  Juicy deliciousness.  Black raspberry and black cherry fruit.  Slight tannins.  This will last another decade, but why?  It is so unique and great now.  

This is always a great value in wine.  Its basically, the ends of the myriad of bottlings that are produced here all blended into one wine.  It costs under $25 and every vintage, though a bit different is tasty.  It also lasts for at least five years probably at least ten.  This one is purple in color.  The nose has dark cherries, some chocolate, sour cherries and spice.  On the palate, this has a nice complexity.  Slight depth.  Slight tannins.  Juicy acidity.  Works well with food or on its own.  Long finish.  A crowd pleaser every time.  

Another inexpensive, relatively easy bottle to find of very nice wine.  Purple in color.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, some cherries, a bit of leather and earth.  On the palate, this has nice black raspberry fruit.  A bit of earthiness to it.  Easy drinking.  Enough acidity to carry food.  Long finish.  Available for under $15, its a very nice bottle.  Should last a few years.  I suspect the 2015 and 2016 vintage will be even better.  

This is an inexpensive (around $6) Chardonnay.  Light golden in color.  The nose has some lemons and oak.  On the palate, this is simple but drinkable.  A bit of citrus.  Not much depth.  Works as an alcohol delivery system.  The key here is that for $6, this is drinkable.  

If you don't know Sandlands, this is a winery you should check into.  The wines are made using grape varietals that are not the usual for California.  Tegan and Olivia Passalacqua are making wines that are a bit lower in alcohol from not the usual locations.  Their pricing is reasonable as well.  This one is around $30.  Ruby in color.  The nose has cherries, slight rhubarb, a hint of barnyard and a bit of bitters.  On the palate, this is medium bodied.  Nice cherry fruit with some black raspberries.  The bitters quality is also there which is kind of interesting.  Works well with food.  Ni

This is a wine produced by the now defunct Crushpad from their purchased grapes.  Purple in color.  The nose has cassis, dark cherries with a fair amount of oak.  On the palate, this has firm tannins.  There is cassis fruit but also a lot of oak.  I wonder if there is enough fruit to outlast the oak.  I am not sure and would not take a chance.  drink this sooner than later.  

This is history in a bottle.  One of the great wines from South Africa and still a great dessert wine.  Light golden in color.  The nose is honeyed with apricots and peach.  On the palate, this is sweet without being cloying.  Honey and apricots.  A bit of acidity.  Worked well with food.  A little goes a long way but it is delicious.  

This is really drinking quite well right now.  I had been told it might be past prime, but this bottle, bought on release and well cellared was about as good as one could expect.  Ruby in color.  Very pretty nose of cherries, tar, and slight roses.  On the palate, this has layers of fruit, dried fruit and earthy forest floor.  Great acidity.  Nice finish.  Worked perfectly at the dinner table.  No hurry on this but this is at or close to peak.  

Warning, this is a biased wine review.  This is our own label.  So why post a note?  Because people often ask me how the wines are drinking and what are my thoughts.  I try to be honest and forthright but at the very least, I make the wine I want to drink, so hopefully, it is a wine that I like.  YMMV.  2010 is a vintage that has taken a while to come around but it seems to have gotten some traction and is getting there.  This bottle was opened and allowed to breathe for 8 hours prior to serving.  Purple in color.  The nose has black raspberries, roasted meat, white pepper and slight floral

Purple in color.  The nose is very nice with cassis, cedar, slight leather and graphite.  On the palate, this is fruit with some depth.  Slight tannins.  Some complexity.  Nice cassis fruit on the palate.  Overall, this is very good and approaching maturity.  Probably won't get better but no hurry either.  Worked well with food.