2011 Tensley Syrah

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$25 (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:  “The grapes for the SBC syrah were sourced from the same five vineyards we used to make the 2010: Camp 4, Mormann, Tierra Alta, Thompson and Colson Canyon. Robert Parker called the 2010 SBC Ssyrah ‘one of the finest values in Syrah.’ The 2011 was made in exactly same way, and we believe it is equally as good as its predecessor. This wine is ripe and full-bodied with well-integrated acidity and tannins. Look for up-front notes of purple plum, blackberries and black cherries complemented by savory roasted meats and lavender. Drink this wine now or age it over the next three to five years.”

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