Description

Tensley Santa Barbara County Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah

In 1998, Joey Tensley launched Tensley Wines, a winery in Santa Barbara County, where the mountain range runs from east to west. Eager to let the vineyard speak for itself, Joey produces vineyard designated Syrah wines that from day one, have been well received on the market.

Located high in the mountains, off of the Tepesquet Canyon, sits Tensley’s prized, eight-acre Colson Canyon vineyard. “Colson Canyon was an easy choice to bottle alone,” says Tensley, speaking of his single vineyard release. At “1,400 [feet] elevation high in the hills, east of Santa Maria, [the] soils are clay loam with a lot of iron and calcareous rocks.” Here, the ground is steep. Sitting above the fog line, the vineyard escapes the morning sun while it bakes in the afternoons. Syrah “does well [here],” he adds. “It adapts well to different soils and weather. It seems to really like the cool ocean influence, but has enough heat to get ripe.”

The Colson Canyon Vineyard was an absolute dream come true. Colson has been part of the Tensley line-up since 2000 and has been a real shining star, consistently showing intensity and power. This year’s Colson is elegant, showing perfumed notes of violets on the nose but it also packs a punch with its smoked meat notes, deep purple fruits and notes of graphite and pepper. The lights touch of new oak balances the chocolate of the wine with notes of vanilla. This wine is rich and approachable now. It can also age beautifully over the next 12 years.

94-96 Points Jeb Dunnuck

Tensley Santa Barbara County Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah

Notes To Your Senses:

• APPEARANCE: Intense purple
• AROMA: Elegant, perfumed notes of violets with deep purple fruits, notes of graphite and pepper
• TASTE: Deep blue and black fruit notes with lights touch of new oak that balances the chocolate of the wine with notes of vanilla
• FINISH: Long and lingering
• ABV: 15%