ABOUT THE WINES 2016 SANDSTORM SERIES MERLOT The medium-purple 2016 Sandstorm Merlot is musky and intense, with notes of cassis, blackberry, bergamot tea, sandalwood, and cocoa powder. The wine opens to riper notes of strawberry jam, fig paste, vanilla, and ripe cherry, almost kirsch aromas. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and very juicy, with lots of dark fruit and a very nice layer of menthol and cedar spice. This very suave Merlot offers good density, with fine-grained tannins, harmonious acidity, and a very creamy finish. Drink now or in the next 6-8 years. $80
2016 SANDSTORM SERIES ZEPHYR This bright, medium-ruby blend starts beautifully sweet, with pungent scents of raspberry puree, plums, roasted marshmallows, licorice, and a lovely violet lift. Swirling brings dark fruit and a very nice herbal tone in addition to hints of pencil shavings and dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is texturally beautiful and extremely round, with lots of dark fruit and oak spice notes. The wine finishes dry but long, with a distinctive green note, typical of Petit Verdot. This is a beautifully layered wine that you can drink now or in the next 6-8 years. $80
2016 SANDSTORM SERIES CABERNET SAUVIGNON The deep-ruby 2016 Sandstorm Cabernet Sauvignon begins deep, with precise notes of black raspberry, cream de cassis, mocha, wild herbs, blood orange skin, and floral potpourri. The wine opens rich and dark, with lots of sweet spices, herbs, and mature dark and red fruit. Highly concentrated, energetic, deep, and very long, this Cabernet has firm tannins that are perfectly buffered by the wine’s intensity of fruit. An end-to-end Cabernet that you can enjoy now or in the next 8-10 years. $80 |