2012 Tensley “Camp 4 Vineyard Blanc”

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$30 (retail) Wine Club pricing reflected in receipt

We’ve got two selections this month from Tensley Wines in Los Olivos, and the reason why is simple:  Joe and Lea Tensley are one of the hardest working couples in the biz, with three brands and 19 different wines on offer. . .though total production is limited. . .around 4,000 cases annually.

Joe makes a ton of syrahs, focusing on small lots of single vineyard wines, and he’s been rewarded by the critics for his efforts.  Robert Parked, as noted below, described the 2010 vintage of the Tensley SBC Syrah as one of the finest values in syrah and he scored it 92 points.  Bet the 2011 vintage receives a like rating.  Plus, another of Joe’s wines has made into the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines.  Pretty impressive for a one-man band who got his start in 1998.

The Tensley Blanc is another winner. . .very small production and it’s now sold out at the winery.

Winery Tasting Notes:  “We like to say that these two varietals complement each other as well and Jennifer and Joey do. The grenache blanc and roussanne for this unique blend come from continuous blocks in the Camp 4 Vineyard and were pressed together to neutral French oak barrels. The wine was then aged on the lees and bottled early (in January) to retain freshness and crisp acidity.  2012 was a great vintage for us, similar to 2010 in the fact that it is fruit-driven and round, but different in that it has a slightly higher acidity. This lends a crispness and brightness to the wine. The grenache blanc brims with steely minerality and fresh notes of green apple that balance beautifully with the rich, tropical fruits and lush mouth feel of the roussanne. Pair this Blanc with spicy Thai dishes, fish dishes, or chilled shellfish. This complex wine is enjoyable now but should age well over the next three to four years. “

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