One of the greats in Santa Barbara County, Tensley began all the way back in 1998. Joey Tensley linitially started Tensley Wines with a one hundred case production. He set out craft reasonably priced Syrah wines from great vineyards of Santa Barbara County. In 1993 Joey first began working as a “cellar rat” for Fess Parker Winery in Santa Barbara County. He later became assistant winemaker at Babcock Vineyards and in 1998 Joey moved on to become the assistant winemaker at Beckmen Vineyards where he first created his own label. Having visited the winery and tasting room on several occasions, I have been very impressed with Tensley releases for more than a decade as there are few California Syrah wines that offer this much value.
The wines have been remarkably consistent. Do not miss out on the stunning 2023 Tensley ‘Tensley Vineyard’ Syrah (OB, 96) which has fantastic range with a great salinity. Learn more about this amazing range of wines at which is a massive yet structured wine that will cellar beautifully for a decade or more.
2022 Joey Tensley ‘Fundamental’ Chardonnay- The 2022 Joey Tensley ‘Fundamental’ Chardonnay offers juicy pear, papaya and apple flavors that mingle well with shortbread and shades of marzipan on the palate. Rich and polished with a smooth texture and plenty of salty minerals, enjoy now and over the next eight years. Drink 2025-2033- 93
2023 Tensley Clairette Blanche- Golden in the glass, this 2023 Clairette Blanche offers good finesse with plenty of stuffing on the palate, showing toasty brioche and banana notes alongside rich melon flavors. A total knockout in terms of verve and richness, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next six to eight years. Drink 2024-2030- 93
2023 Tensley ‘Santa Barbara County’ Syrah- This outstanding 2023 Syrah offers serious bang for your buck. Smoke and beef drippings mark the nose alongside black raspberry coils and shades of iodine on the nose. The palate is rich and layered with good texture and tension. Salty and showing plenty of finesse, enjoy now and over the next eight plus years. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2023 Tensley ‘Santa Barbara County’ Syrah Noir- The savory and sultry 2023 Tensley ‘Santa Barbar County’ Syrah Noirs shows a wonderful purity of red and dark fruits on the palate, alongside fennel seed, tobacco leaf and hints of chocolate. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 93
2022 Tensley P2KV ‘Zaca Mesa Vineyard’ Syrah- The 2023 ‘Zach Mesa Vineyard’ Syrah comes from plantings that originated all the way back in 1978. This comes off inky and bold with dense dark fruits that parade with smoke, brisket and shades of black olive tapenade on the palate. Very meaty and delicious, enjoy now and over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 94
2023 Tensley P2KV ‘Colston Canyon Vineyard’ Syrah/Grenache- The heady 2023 Tensley P2KV ‘Colston Canyon Vineyard’ Syrah/Grenache comes from vines planted back in 1997. It is beautifully textured stuff that offers menthol and scorched earth alongside bright red and dark fruits, with a chocolate edge on the palate. Full-bodied and delicious, enjoy now and over the next eight to ten years. Drink 2025-2033- 94
2022 Tensley ‘Noir’ Syrah- Inky in the glass, the 2022 ‘Noir’ Syrah is very smooth on the mouth, loaded with dense black fruits with bacon fat, cigar ash and salty nuances. Its full-bodied and hedonistic stuff that is drinking marvelous in its heady youth. Drink 2024-2032- 93
2023 Tensley ‘Colson Canyon Vineyard’ Syrah- This sensational 2023 Syrah comes from the Colsen Canyon Vineyard which is set at 1400 feet. There is marvelous flavor density and beautiful tension through the core of the wine. Creme de violette, tar, menthol and molten chocolate flavors all come together marvelously on the palate. Enjoy this beauty over the next ten plus years. Drink 2025-235- 96
2023 Tensley ‘Turner Vineyard’ Syrah- The delightful 2023 Tensley ‘Turner Vineyard’ Syrah is sourced from this location in the Santa Rita Hills. This is a dense and heady effort with marvelous nerve. Boysenberry compote, and dark currants mingle well with bacon fat and violets on the palate. Delightful to consume now, enjoy over the next ten years. Drink 2025-2035- 96
2023 Tensley ‘Thompson Vineyard’ Syrah- The amazing 2023 Tensley ‘Thompson Vineyard’ Syrah is a killer wine from this hot vintage. On the nose this shows off red currant tones that mingle well with white pepper dusted brisket and fresh sage. The palate is lifed with serious freshens and finesse. Herbal and wondederully salty, this is showing beautifully now with an iodine and beef dripping edge, at the two year mark. Enjoy over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2035- 96
2023 Tensley ‘Tensley Vineyard’ Syrah- The sensational 2023 Tensley ‘Tensley Vineyard’ Syrah opens with a beautiful bouquet of black florals alongside dark currants and loganberry cordial. The palate is fleshy and ripe with good tension and a marvelous core of black and blue fruits. Full-bodied and showing a light saline streak, enjoy now and over the next ten plus years to come. Drink 2025-2037- 96
2021 Joey Tensley ‘Fundamental’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2021 ‘Fundamental’ offers black tea and exotic spice on the nose alongside dark currants. The plate is rich and layered with good tension. Enjoy now and over the next few years. Drink 2025-2032- 92