So I have a confession to make: we've been hiding one of the best wine deals of the year in our Pasadena store for the last month, as a reward for the locals who brave the lines to come see us in person. I'm apologizing right now for keeping these from you. It won't happen again.
To be completely honest, we've also been hoarding a bit of it for ourselves: the Mission staff. When you have a local wine made from fruit this good, by one of the region's most beloved winemakers, each entirely from a single vineyard, for a price this low, you tend to oscillate between immediately telling everyone, or telling absolutely no one.
What exactly are we talking about here?
We're talking about local Sauvignon Blanc that tastes like white Bordeaux for fiteen bucks. Syrah that drinks like a Northern Rhône, and Mourvèdre that could pass for Southern Rhône, all for well under twenty, and made by Jeff Nelson! It's insane. Without a doubt, one of the best wine deals we've ever uncovered.
It's certainly the most exciting deal I've found since coming over to Mission this year.
For those of you who don't know Jeff or his Liquid Farm wine label, imagine an old world style of wine that embraces the local Santa Barbara County viticulture and climate by showcasing both the capacity for terroir and the potential for food-pairing with local California cuisine.
To quote Jeff directly: "We were eating local, supporting mom and pop restaurants and farmers markets. In trying to support California wines, we typically didn't finish those bottles as eagerly as the old world wines on our table. That's when we decided to make wine from our own backyard in a style we craved."
The Liquid Farm wines get RAVE reviews year in and year out. As an example, the 2018 White Hill Vineyard Chardonnay $34.99 we just received in got a whopping 94 points from Antonio Galloni over at Vinous. The new 2019 Pinot Noirs just got a pair of 95s, and the new 2019 SBC Pinot Noir $39.99 just snagged a 92. They are the critical darlings of the SoCal wine scene.
Which brings us to Dandi.
This past October, I drove up to Jeff's house for dinner and stayed the night (with his talking parrot Rio), and that's when he told me about Dandi. The goal with the Dandi label was to bring in two of Jeff's winemaking friends at Liquid Farm and extend the line beyond just Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, incorporating other varietals from fantastic sites along the Central Coast.
The Mourvèdre is from nearby Vogelsang vineyard, the Sauvignon Blanc and Syrah are both from La Lieff, and all three wines—in true Liquid Farm fashion—are absolutely delightful. Jeff and team were focusing more on restaurants and wine bars with the label, but with the logistical issues during the pandemic they had yet to find a serious retail operation to take on the brand.
As a testament to our relationship, Jeff gave us a take-all price on the three current Dandi offerings if we could help launch the wines at Mission. After tasting the wines over a home-cooked meal, I was practically giddy about the opportunity. Here's the gist:
2018 Dandi Central Coast Syrah $14.99 (Normally $21) - Made in a fresh and easy-drinking style, the 2018 Dandi Syrah offers up juicy dark berries, black pepper, and violets, with a 13.5% ABV that never wallops you over the head the way a number of more-extracted, high alcohol California Syrahs can do. Bold enough to pair with steak au poivre, but light enough to put in the fridge with a slight chill, this is California winemaking at its absolute best value proposition.
2018 Dandi Central Coast Sauvignon Blanc $14.99 (Normally $21) - With a delicate richness and weight more reminiscent of white Bordeaux than the snappy, peppery Sauvignon Blancs we typically see at this price, the 2018 Dandi is one of the most-delicious and most-versatile California white wines we've tasted this year, offering up aromas of white flowers and stone fruit with an effortless, easy-drinking style. 100% barrel-fermented and aged in neutral barrels, it has a roundness on the finish that stands out from the standard pack of sub-$20 options.
2019 Dandi Vogelzang Vineyard Mourvédre $17.99 (Normally $25) - While Mourvédre (or Monastrell as its called in Spain) is normally used as a blending grape in Côte du Rhône or GSM wines, rather than a single varietal, this absolutely gorgeous single vineyard expression sourced from Vogelzang Vineyard in Happy Canyon has us convinced: we need more Mourvédre in our lives! Dark-fruited, juicy, but with just a hint of tannic grip, the savory notes on the finish make this perfect pairing for grilled meats, charcuterie boards, and just about anything else you want to throw at it! At 12.5% ABV, it's a local foodie's dream bottle.
If you want to know what we're drinking this holiday season at Mission, it's Dandi. And if you want to understand just why Liquid Farm is one of the best winemakers in California without breaking the bank, now's your chance.
Once they're gone, that's it. We've got just over twelve cases of each wine in stock for the moment, but the secret is now out.
-David Driscoll