Sandhill Small Lots Sangiovese 2017

Jennifer Havers rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

Love this, this wine has just the best combination or fruit, spice and earthiness in a wine, and it's from BC and not Italy?! Awesome. Aromas of dark cherry, strawberry jam, tomato leaf, cedar, cocoa and eathy spice. Medium bodied with light, smooth tannins, and bright, balanced acidity. Vibrant fruitm and lovely spice, cedar, and earthy hints on the palate. Pair with tomato-based pasta, charcuterie, or grilled meats.

Colin McKone rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

A real delight, this is my first time trying a Canadian Sangiovese. It is medium garnet in colour with aromas of black cherry, stewed red berries, roasted tomatoes, cedar and black pepper. It is medium bodied with smooth tannins and well balanced acidity. On the palate you get flavours of plum, black cherry, dark chocolate and baking spice. This will naturally pair well with tomato based pasta dishes. Tasted on February 25, 2022.

Gwen Barton rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Impressive expression of one of my favourite Italian grapes (Think Chianti!). Cherry, cranberry and earth notes. Med-full bodied, with good structure. Lingering finish with notes of chocolate and warm spice. Pair with your favourite pizza. Tasted Jan 2022.

Craig Haynes rated this wine as 91/100 with the following review:

The 2017 Sandhill Small Lots Sangiovese is a contemplative, understated and captivatingly delicious expression of this Italian varietal. Goodness is happening here.

Harvested from a single vineyard, this red’s low key, charismatic aromas evoke red berries and cherries, red berry sweets as well as hints of sweet cedar, bitter dark chocolate and baking spices. This creation from British Columbia, Canada’s Okanagan Valley appellation is medium bodied and feels pleasingly desert dry with gently pulling tannins, modest acidity and a minutes long finish. Its flavours - compact and impactful – have a ripe red berries and herbaceous focus.

Sandhill encourages people to decant their Sangiovese so that oxygen can expand its aroma + flavour profile. This recommendation is sound advice for this 2017 offering, however, as you enjoy this bottle consider decanting small portions for different intervals of time so that you can experience this red’s profile as it develops. I wish I had second bottle so that I could cellar it for 12 to 24 months.

I’d serve this one with hard Italian cheeses.

Reviewed December 2021

Christian Marcoux rated this wine as 93/100 with the following review:

The Sandhill Sangiovese 2017 Single Vineyard shows elegance and refinement, and delivers a bouquet of dried fig, sun-dried tomato, black pepper, dried flowers, leather, campfire, cinnamon and sandalwood. The wine exposes a great structure of tannins and acidity. Full body, with a dried fruit finish, this delicious red wine will pair well with hard cheese and pasta. Palate: tart plum, black cherry, potpourri, smoke, mocha and oak. Delicious wine. Enjoy!

Melanie Lloyd rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This is my first time trying Sangiovese from the Okanagan Valley, BC, and wow, I must say I'm impressed! The profile is similar to my go-to choices for Italian Sangiovese. From the Okanagan Valley, it has juicy cherry aromas along with stewed strawberry, earthy beets, a touch of date square, and dark chocolate.

Medium bodied on the palate with velvet smooth tannins and notes of tart cherry, cranberry, cloves, and dark cocoa. The flavours linger.

Pair with pasta in tomato sauce, a beef roast, or with aged cheese.

Tasted November 2021

Lori Kilmartin WSET3 rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

What? Sangiovese from British Columbia? Canada? The Sandhill Winery website says: "this is the first Sangiovese grown and produced as a VQA wine in Canada". I say Well Done Sandhill! Close your eyes, swirl, sniff and sip and you are transported to Italy!
Aromas of ripe cherry, cedar and a touch of earthiness. On the palate red currants & cherry, spice and oak. A warm, coating mouthfeel that leaves you wanting more. Medium body with smooth tannins and the right amount of acidity to make it a sipping wine as well as very food friendly.
This would pair beautifully with pizza, pasta and braised meats.
Tasted November 28/2021