Tensley Santa Barbara County Syrah 2021

93 Points                                                                                             A blockbuster new Syrah from Joe Tensley, one of the Santa Barbara region's leading Syrah producers. Try this gem before it's gone. 94 Point Robert Parker: "Medium ruby-purple, the Tensley 2020 Syrah Santa Barbara County has pretty aromas of apricot and wild berry preserves with nuances of dried earth, wildflowers and dark spices. The palate is bright, fresh and lifted with an appealing blend of fruit, floral and savory character, and it finishes long and layered." 93 Points Jeb Dunnuck: "Tasted out of bottle, the Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County is another terrific wine that could be 2-3 times the price. Elegant, complex notes of red plums, blackberries, toasted spiced, peppered meats, and flowery incense all give way to a medium to full-bodied Syrah that has silky tannins, no hard edges, and just a balanced, layered style that’s impossible to resist. It’s beautifully done, as well as a smoking value. It will evolve for 8-10 years... ...some of the finest wines he’s made. They have the classic, opulent style he’s known for paired with more freshness, purity, and acidity. His wines age beautifully, but my money is on his 2018s evolving even longer. These wines will put on weight over the course of their élevage, and this is certainly another brilliant vintage. If you take prices into account, dollar for dollar, these are some of the greatest wines out there." Winery Notes:  As many of our customers know, this year a long-held dream came true for us when we bought Colson Canyon Vineyard. Colson has been part of the Tensley line-up since 2000 and has been a real star for us, making Food and Wine’s Top Ten Syrah’s in America as well as twice making The Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list. This rugged vineyard always delivers some of darkest, most extracted wines we produce. After three years of drought, the 2015 vintage gave us that big extraction and then some.   Look for notes of black plums and blackberries as well as vanilla, black and white pepper and smoked meats. This Colson is drinking well now but will continue to age nicely over the next 10 to 12 years.

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