I love spending time with Ed, one of the genuine, gentle and thoughtful winemakers out there. He always welcomes my thoughts and poured generously from his collection. A great afternoon before our dinner night with others.
When I asked Ed what he’d tell his 20-year-in-the-past self, he would say to “stay at Fort Ross”. He misses that experience. From Ed 20 years in the future, he hopes to hear that he visited his parents and sisters more often.
Ed will correct me on the last 2 if they were AW wines and not Sandlers 
2022 Sandler Poor Ranch Zin
This is 100% Zin from Mendocino. Light red fruit mixes with some latent bramble. Round, supple, sweet and easy to drink but not at all cloying, instead lightly lifted in fact.
2023 Sandler RRV PN
all the fruit is from Grahams. Quiet-ish nose, but you can still discern strawberry, rhubarb and pomegranate. Nice in the mouth, expressive fruit with RRV cola swatch. Almost a controlled joy.
2023 Sandler Grahams PN
This was a best barrels selection (4) by Ed. (I believe he mentioned he’s still using some Ermitage barrels and 2 or 3 other coopers). A little spicier nose and inflected cherry comes up the glass. This is also stricter in the mouth, with darker cherry and berry, needs more time. Fascinating to compare to the RRV
2023 August West SLH PN
Peterson vineyard in Santa Lucia Highlands. 828, 667 and Pommard clones. All destemmed and 15 months in oak. Snips of herbs and spices underpin raspberry aromatics. Baking spices along with light cherry and plum are on the palate. You need more than one sip, tends to the thinking side
2023 Sandler Morris Ranch PN
This is 667 clone only. Freeman used it long ago for their Sonoma Coast. 20 year contract with Flowers ended and Ed had a chance to get back in. Petaluma Gap. It’s SW-facing with half-sand, half-clay. 10 months in oak, this presents a bit of bramble and also dark cherry with just the whisper of cocoa. To taste, it’s an energetic wine right now, grippy at the front, fresh at the back. Red and black cherry combine with a little plum. Promising in a couple years I think
2023 Sandler Madzia’s Vineyard PN
Bennett Valley, also just 667 and destemmed. I get cinnamon glints with cardamom over strawberry and pomegranate seed. I like this an awful lot dans la bouche. Finesse-driven, although a little warm, that fits perfectly with the fruit-and-spices profile. Everything already feels like it’s in the place it’s supposed to be.
2023 Sandler Boer PN
115 only, this is 100% whole cluster. And it is a broodier nose, with boysenberry and notes of baking spice. This is strict but nicely structured, I told Ed that here the tannins are a binder for the acid which carries the day right now. Needs time, with replays and added black cherry.
2023 Sandler Bien Nacido PN
Ed loves working with the fruit and this is his favourite wine at the moment of the vintage. Clone 2A, this saw 25% whole cluster. Very expressive cherry and rhubarb coulee in the bouauet. This one has a smidge of dirt. A toddler, but a precocious one Close to sweetmeats mix in with tangy berry and black cherry. Has a journey ahead but an exciting one.
Thank you again, Ed. I hope to do it again someday.
Mike