45 minute decant, Rich, deep purple color. Candied grape and roast meat nose. Big palate, chewy and jammy-ish, but not over the top. Actually, silky smooth on the back end: Black pepper spice, green bell pepper, and a touch of rosemary and thyme. Reminiscent of the garrigue notes one would find in a southern Rhône , even though a Syrah like this shoukd conjure up memories of an Hermitage or Cornas. All in all, a good effort. Nicely aged, savory and delicious.
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Unlike many Tensleys' I have had, this was Brettanomyces free, at least to my palate. It was also starting to show some age. Spicy boysenberry in the nose. Blackberry, pepper a hint of leather in the palate. A bit of length in the finish, but probably drink in 2017.
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I think this has gotten steadily better over the years with aging. Dark, smokey, chocolate, and some spice on the finish. Less plump and more "glassy" than expected. Good finish with some acidity.
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Tar and licorice and dirt on the nose, but maybe with the suggestion of fruit. Upon opening, the palate is racy, savory, and delicious. With some air, the sweet elements come out, but the palate remains in balance with a nice bitter note at the end.
Tensley solidifies their position as one of my favorite southern california syrah producers. Well done.
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Frizzant on opening, like many Tensley's, there is some sort of biological contamination. It hasn't ruined this bottle though. There is a certain biological component in the flavor profile, with plum, cigar and leather notes.
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At peak. Dense, spicy, anise, cola, tar, tobacco and pepper balanced by sort of sweet black raspberry. Great mouthfeel. Layers of flavors. Drink. '06 was a great vintage for SBC.
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Talk about QPR. Great value for the price. Drank this at a 60th birthday party. I opened this wine to let it breath. I even 'hid' until it was ready, it so nobody would drink it. This was dark and yummy after 45 minutes of slo-ox. It's a good thing I took a decent pour, because by the time I went back for more, someone found the stash... and the botle was already empty. Can't say the same for the '08 Sea Smoke Southing pinot noir (see note). I have another bottle, and I'll let it rest another year.
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3/9/15-Didn't make my last one out to 5 years more like I said, but no regrets. Cork fell completely apart and if it wasn't for the fine screen of the venture, I'd be pooping cork. But nothing wrong with this wine. Confused a fellow taster and I as we thought there was grapefruit flavors. But after a bit decided this was indeed pepper. Fruit was nice and on the softer side but not at all faded. Really nice syrah, one i think should be on the short list of best in Cali. Age has made the balance almost perfect. Fruit and alcohol and tannins all seemed about as good as one could hope for. Has that nice syrah bitterness on the back and side of tongue. and on the third day it rose again. Fruit hasn't faded nor have any off flavors showed up. This is the kind of wine that makes one ask why am I not buying more of this producer? Recommended and even though CT says past it's prime a year ago, this one was decent and may be able to make it another 2-5 years. But I think it is ready and well developed now.
Still firing on all 4's. Beautiful drinking wine. Drink now, but I'm holding my last 2 bottles for 12 - 24 months. Originally purchased with Joey at the tasting room in Santa Ynez, thanks to a recommendation from Larry at Tercero.
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Initially I criticised this for being quite green, but then I let it open and breath a bit, and I think it is more that it is a Paso Robles Syrah that is being made true to style in the Hermitage tradition. In fact it reminds me very much of the Chapoutier style. I would suggest that to do this, they have picked just a little before full ripeness, but the balance that comes through after the wine has air makes this perfectly OK. In fact it makes it a wine that I think many would go to "old world" on a first or blind tasting.
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Wow, a bottle of Tensley not full of sweaty Brett. This was thankfully clean. Spicy mint in the nose with a modern, ripe fruit in the palate. Raspberry, blackberry, chocolate, pepper with an acidic backbone, a bit sour. Doesn't finish terribly long, but not bad.
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this was a very weird bottle of syrah ... i typically love, and i mean love, Tensley bottles. This one was fantastic with the first glass immediately upon opening (it was cellar temperature, not room temp) ; it had fruit, it had spice, it had a mouthful of goodness. The second glass was good, but nothing like the first. My wife (who usually favors cabs / syrahs) thought that this was 'sharp'. If every glass was like the first one, this was a home-run, but alas ... it faded.
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This was one of the best Syrahs I've ever had. It was just about perfectly balanced. it sits in the middle of the road between super extracted and nuanced in a perfect manner for me. Every sip was a delight. Had with Hungarian smoked sausage which has paprika, and the wine intensified the paprika and pepper flavors. Purple colored, with Medium legs, It smells like Black Pepper, and Blackberry, and very rich. Smooth textured and with a Medium/Full body. The wine finishes Medium. want to give my last one another five years.
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LOL at my previous note. Its been 14 months since I opened this last and I am a bit sad that this is my last bottle. Its a solid Syrah and after eating so many fresh berries, walking the vineyards and gnashing my teeth on cabernet seeds, I am immediately taken back into those vineyards with this wine. There is still a freshness on my tongue and in the aromatics that I really really enjoy. This is a beautiful wine and if you have one, give yourself a treat and pop it open. BTW - I just popped the cork and let it slow-ox for an hour or so before drinking.
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Drinking great right now. Tannins perfectly integrated at this point. Deep color, but light in mouth. In hind sight, it was probably the great acidity.
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1 hour decant; great nose of dark fruits, some baking spice. Initially disjointed, too acidic and hot on the palate - disconnect between the rich nose and astringent taste. Came together nicely over the next 90 minutes as flavors opened, alcohol subsided. Enjoyed, good QPR.
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Wow. Wow. Wow. Dark purple in the glass. Muscular legs. Medium body. The nose is an extravaganza of spice, forest, plums and ... fresh olives! On the palate, waves of musky, dusky berries, finished with fine minerals, sensuous tannins and luscious licorice at the pinnacle. Grand!
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I'm a big fan of these '06 S. CA Syrah's ... big and chewy but still balanced and elegant ... this Tensley and a recent Melville were both just fun to drink. The Tensley i think is ready to drink now; it might get a bit better, but right now it's just a bottle of fun!
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Deep red with hint of purple. Great nose with black fruit, tar, white pepper and wood. Concentrated palate with lots of fruit, soft tannins and a peppery finish.
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Poured into decanter. White pepper & blueberry on the nose inky black in color. Nose is reinforced by the palate. All I can say is juicy juicy. Juicy. At 32 this wine is fairly priced
As it gets more air time, the white pepper dissipates off the nose and the hammy notes start to emerge. Bring out your berries.
The giants are up 2-1 v Astros and the wife is at the game, which makes this wine a point and a half better. I hate commercials which take a half point away from the wine. The white pepper is now gone from the nose, but the palate still has hints of white pepper. Third pour and now the white pepper is replaced with a hint Of soy sauce that is really enjoyable. The palate is still big Jammy, on your face fruit. Which is also enjoyable. Giants still up 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th. 6 pitches, 6 fastballs. Is that the epitome of my life? Who knows. But damn the wine is good. I need a haircut. Game over gigantes win.
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Yhis is getting better with age. A very impressive Syrah and great QPR. It is complex and deep and well integrated. Strong nose to match the palate. Earth, pepper, plum are all there. Great body to it.
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Opened and left in glass for one hour. Wow on the nose, funky complex aromas of plum, blackberry, pepper, smoked meat, sage, earth, leather, olive. On the palate, candied plum, leather, blackberry, cracked pepper, olive, dill, tart blueberry. Finishes with sharp acidity and smooth tannins. I think that this needs at least five more years to knit together but it was a treate already. Oustanding, screams of Nothern Rhone instead of Santa Barbara.
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Beautiful perfume and blueberries on the nose, jet black in color. What a beautiful wine. This is ready to drink now and I see no reason to give it anymore time. I am typically not a fruit bomb kind of guy, but this was a great wine with dry aged, pasture fed Ribeye steaks from the grill. If you have a bottle of this, do it now, its awesome
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Pal Joey! What a winner. Deep purple to the edge, with legs that just don't quit. Spicy and sophisticated on the nose. After an hour resting in the glass, the palate shimmers with boysenberries, nutmeg and cinnamon, with a finish that lasts and lasts. Outstandingly luscious. Day 2 Newsflash -- I just upped this a point. The berries are even deeper, like a compote of blackberries, raspberries and ripe blueberries. A final fresh ground pepper note is exhilarating!
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The Colson Canyon is usually one of Joey Tensley's most expressive Syrahs, but this vintage seems rather restrained and cool by comparison. Aromas of garrigue, flint, blueberries and crushed peppercorns. Full bodied on the palate with notes of red and black plums, wet soil, and iron. Soft tannins with low acidity. A bit pedestrian, unfortunately. 86-87 points.
Day 2: Poured myself another glass tonight, and while the general structure of the wine did not change, the flavors did seem better integrated. Therefore, I have decided to round my original score up to 87 points.
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Over the top, in your face Syrah. Fruit and Pepper jump out of the glass, however there is quite a bit of heat from the alcohol. When decanted a while and served at appropriate temperature, a noticable chocolate smell emerges. This wine has an excellent long finish.
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Fine, I suppose. Nicely executed, sweet ripe Syrah with some serious tannic bite. But ultimately unexciting, to me at least. Both too ripe and too tannic to to show much nuance. Might resolve itself a little better with time.
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Really enjoyed this intense syrah. Only wine I've bot from wineaccess that I didn't regret. Drank in a curious line up with Matchbook Tempranillo and 04 La Basetta. Wish I had a lot more of the Tensley.
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Filling in w/the Friday Brown Bag Group (Rich & Dana's): Deep garnet color. Notes of olivev, vanilla and dill, with a subtle citrusy/grapefruit quality. Flavors of red fruit dominate the palate, with hints of herbs and soil. Good balance, with a really nice finish. 90-92 pts.
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Black in color. Aromas of blackberry and leather. Flavors of blackberry, leather, raspberry, and black pepper. Nice freshness and acidity. Rich and full bodied with a heavy black pepper finish. 15.2% alcohol.
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Popped and poured, enjoyed with a meal of veal saltimbocca served with arborio rice and wild mushrooms. Mirror image of my first bottle of this, elegant, sharp, acidic, rich, midweight with powerful elegance.
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9/25/09-D first thing I noticed when uncorking was the bouquet. Very powerful. A potent wine with a bit of heat upon first pour. I think that will blow off with some air time in the glass. Deep purple in color, cork deeply stained. Legs ran in several waves and just kept coming. I would say medium. Based on this bottle I would seek out more. Think this will go for 5-10 years and I have two more to see just how it will shape up. 9/29/05-vacuum sealed for a day or two, then corked. Yes, I saved a glass until now and this wine has matured fabulously. The harsh edge I though I detected, or rather the distinct flavor that threw this off just a little, is all but gone, leaving a very smooth and well balanced tasty wine. It has lost nothing. The alcohol has also hung around but is dominated more by the fruit. I am going to predict 10 years of life. I know, Cali syrah in general don't go that far...but I'm betting this one will. I give a solid 90+
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Lot's of nice blueberry and dark fruit on the nose. Day one the palate had a lot of strawberry, blackberry and a little bit of heat, with a lot of pepper on the back end. It was very tasty. Day 2, it became more complex, with some darker fruit, smoother, less pepper and just a much better structure. This is one of those wines that is better after 24 hours of air: it gains in complexity and structure. Day one it was probably an 88 to 89 point wine, but day 2 it clearly was a 90. Should have saved more for day 2!
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Popped and poured after the Saxum JBV and Broken Stones. This is an excellent syrah. Elegant, sharp, rich, nice weight and mouthfeel, long finish. Not as extracted as the Saxums, more along the lines of the Araujo syrahs. Graceful keeps coming to mind. Nice wine and great QPR.
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Not as peppery as the first bottle I tried but still nice brambly blueberry qualities with a very unique flowery/violet like quality. This is a rich young wine that will be fun to watch evolve.
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Enjoyable fruity wine. Aromatic nose pleasant but not overly complex. This wine is one of those great value wines that is great for every day enjoyment but one that I would not open at a formal dinner with wineophiles expecting a more complex pour. I will enjoy my remaining bottles and remember that this wine was purchased for $12!
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Notes of blueberries, plums, garrigue, and cloves. Earth, iron, and peppercorns add to the palate. Finishes with some gritty tannins. Needs much more time.
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(Had at a tasting; no formal rating, but I would've scored this around 88-89.) Very rich, fruity, 'delicious' nose. Flavor was very dense and rich, with tons of cherry and strawberry and a very nice texture, but the heat and oak both very pronounced. Finish was long, but was dominated by the heat and oak. This seemed over-the-top even compared to other fruit bombs. Not my personal style.
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Decanted 3 hr’s. Nice aromatics with blueberry, raspberry, game and white pepper along with flavors of red currants and anise with a touch of sweetness. Starts with fine, silky tannins with an oily, mouth coating viscosity that broadens on the mid-palate and finally gives way to fine detail towards the back of the palate. White pepper increases on the long and lingering finish.
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Lovely purple color with a soft floral bouquet. Really delicious wine. In the beginning the wine is a little chewey and the flavors are those of chocolate with hints of cola and liquorice wrapped up in a light violet bouquet. Wonderful balance and length and a great floatiness to the wine. Over time, the wine gets less chewey. The predominant flavor is cola, which is not something I am a huge fan of, but the wine remains in very good balance and has fantastic texture. Loved this wine on the whole and definitely for the price. I'd like to try their other vineyards as well
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I am writing this review on the third night after this bottle was opened. It has completely opened up. Deep purple color. Pleasant nose of raspberry and cherry. Nice mouthfeel with flavors of raspberries and blackberry jam. This is beautiful New World style Syrah.
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Well balanced wine but IMO obvious *fakeness* on the nose and palate, e.g., artificial flavoring, etc., which IMO is detrimental. Would not buy again, but would definitely recommend to those who prefer new world wines.
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Decanted for 2 hours. This wine exhibited a dark garnet/purple color with a nose filled with concentrated scents of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries with hints of red licorice and tar. On the palate, rich, ripe flavors of black raspberries and blueberries were accentuated by spicy notes. Expansive mouthfeel with well integrated tannins. Nice, lengthy finish. Another beauty by Tensley. HS93
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3/18/2021 - BernieMSY Likes this wine: 93 Points
45 minute decant,
Rich, deep purple color. Candied grape and roast meat nose. Big palate, chewy and jammy-ish, but not over the top. Actually, silky smooth on the back end: Black pepper spice, green bell pepper, and a touch of rosemary and thyme. Reminiscent of the garrigue notes one would find in a southern Rhône , even though a Syrah like this shoukd conjure up memories of an Hermitage or Cornas.
All in all, a good effort. Nicely aged, savory and delicious.
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4/20/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 89 Points
Unlike many Tensleys' I have had, this was Brettanomyces free, at least to my palate. It was also starting to show some age. Spicy boysenberry in the nose. Blackberry, pepper a hint of leather in the palate. A bit of length in the finish, but probably drink in 2017.
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3/21/2017 - iamandyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
I think this has gotten steadily better over the years with aging. Dark, smokey, chocolate, and some spice on the finish. Less plump and more "glassy" than expected. Good finish with some acidity.
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2/26/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 87 Points
There's not a lot going on right now. I think time to drink up. Nose of raspberry with smoky leather, raspberry and chocolate notes.
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9/20/2016 - BernieMSY wrote: 93 Points
Very dark purple color. Roast black fruit, roast meat. Blackberry, currant.
Very rich, opulent style. Not exactly jammy. It is silky with a great mouthfeel. Soft tannins. Drink up
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6/2/2016 - dhammer53 wrote: 91 Points
I enjoyed my last (of 3) Tensley wines on Memorial Day. No notes. 91+
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5/27/2016 - alpha_ori Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tar and licorice and dirt on the nose, but maybe with the suggestion of fruit. Upon opening, the palate is racy, savory, and delicious. With some air, the sweet elements come out, but the palate remains in balance with a nice bitter note at the end.
Tensley solidifies their position as one of my favorite southern california syrah producers. Well done.
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4/6/2016 - guitarguy Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Frizzant on opening, like many Tensley's, there is some sort of biological contamination. It hasn't ruined this bottle though. There is a certain biological component in the flavor profile, with plum, cigar and leather notes.
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1/3/2016 - Mootsie Likes this wine: 95 Points
At peak. Dense, spicy, anise, cola, tar, tobacco and pepper balanced by sort of sweet black raspberry. Great mouthfeel. Layers of flavors. Drink. '06 was a great vintage for SBC.
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10/11/2015 - dhammer53 wrote: 93 Points
Talk about QPR. Great value for the price. Drank this at a 60th birthday party. I opened this wine to let it breath. I even 'hid' until it was ready, it so nobody would drink it. This was dark and yummy after 45 minutes of slo-ox. It's a good thing I took a decent pour, because by the time I went back for more, someone found the stash... and the botle was already empty. Can't say the same for the '08 Sea Smoke Southing pinot noir (see note). I have another bottle, and I'll let it rest another year.
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7/12/2015 - dmitchell4 wrote: 92 Points
Somehow not as spectacular as last bottle, may be me.
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4/15/2015 - dmitchell4 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still my favorite Cali Syrah, hard to beat. Hard to see this improving from here.
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3/16/2015 - guitarguy wrote: 85 Points
Skunky nose and flavor profile, chocolate, meat and a bit of pepper. Not entirely pleasant.
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3/12/2015 - dmitchell4 wrote: 92 Points
Still one of my favorites, always a guest pleaser
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3/9/2015 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 94 Points
3/9/15-Didn't make my last one out to 5 years more like I said, but no regrets. Cork fell completely apart and if it wasn't for the fine screen of the venture, I'd be pooping cork. But nothing wrong with this wine. Confused a fellow taster and I as we thought there was grapefruit flavors. But after a bit decided this was indeed pepper. Fruit was nice and on the softer side but not at all faded. Really nice syrah, one i think should be on the short list of best in Cali. Age has made the balance almost perfect. Fruit and alcohol and tannins all seemed about as good as one could hope for. Has that nice syrah bitterness on the back and side of tongue. and on the third day it rose again. Fruit hasn't faded nor have any off flavors showed up. This is the kind of wine that makes one ask why am I not buying more of this producer? Recommended and even though CT says past it's prime a year ago, this one was decent and may be able to make it another 2-5 years. But I think it is ready and well developed now.
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1/1/2015 - dmitchell4 wrote: 90 Points
Doubt it will improve from here.
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12/19/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 92 Points
Did not need air
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12/19/2014 - dhammer53 wrote: 91 Points
Still firing on all 4's. Beautiful drinking wine. Drink now, but I'm holding my last 2 bottles for 12 - 24 months. Originally purchased with Joey at the tasting room in Santa Ynez, thanks to a recommendation from Larry at Tercero.
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12/14/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 90 Points
Poured right out of the bottle. True to form however after 45 min of air got flabby. Time to drink these up.
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8/31/2014 - pekingunther Likes this wine: 91 Points
Initially I criticised this for being quite green, but then I let it open and breath a bit, and I think it is more that it is a Paso Robles Syrah that is being made true to style in the Hermitage tradition. In fact it reminds me very much of the Chapoutier style. I would suggest that to do this, they have picked just a little before full ripeness, but the balance that comes through after the wine has air makes this perfectly OK. In fact it makes it a wine that I think many would go to "old world" on a first or blind tasting.
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5/26/2014 - WDSteers wrote: 93 Points
Spice, meat and cocoa beginning ,mid ad finish.
Pepper at finish as well. Matched hanger steak
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3/9/2014 - dmitchell4 wrote: 92 Points
Still one of my favorites
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11/29/2013 - dmitchell4 wrote: 91 Points
Pre Thanksgiving party with Mark, as usual everyone impressed with the depth of this wine.
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8/22/2013 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
Wow, a bottle of Tensley not full of sweaty Brett. This was thankfully clean. Spicy mint in the nose with a modern, ripe fruit in the palate. Raspberry, blackberry, chocolate, pepper with an acidic backbone, a bit sour. Doesn't finish terribly long, but not bad.
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3/10/2013 - jrglm wrote: 92 Points
This juice is whack. Joey T. did a solid with this vintage.
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11/27/2012 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 90 Points
this was a very weird bottle of syrah ... i typically love, and i mean love, Tensley bottles. This one was fantastic with the first glass immediately upon opening (it was cellar temperature, not room temp) ; it had fruit, it had spice, it had a mouthful of goodness. The second glass was good, but nothing like the first. My wife (who usually favors cabs / syrahs) thought that this was 'sharp'. If every glass was like the first one, this was a home-run, but alas ... it faded.
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11/25/2012 - pmarlo Likes this wine: 95 Points
This was one of the best Syrahs I've ever had. It was just about perfectly balanced. it sits in the middle of the road between super extracted and nuanced in a perfect manner for me. Every sip was a delight. Had with Hungarian smoked sausage which has paprika, and the wine intensified the paprika and pepper flavors.
Purple colored, with Medium legs, It smells like Black Pepper, and Blackberry, and very rich. Smooth textured and with a Medium/Full body. The wine finishes Medium. want to give my last one another five years.
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10/20/2012 - wendyinwlv wrote: 89 Points
Very nice. Not too intense of a flavor,but good fruit cherry and blackberry tastes
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10/13/2012 - dave smigielski wrote: 91 Points
LOL at my previous note. Its been 14 months since I opened this last and I am a bit sad that this is my last bottle. Its a solid Syrah and after eating so many fresh berries, walking the vineyards and gnashing my teeth on cabernet seeds, I am immediately taken back into those vineyards with this wine. There is still a freshness on my tongue and in the aromatics that I really really enjoy. This is a beautiful wine and if you have one, give yourself a treat and pop it open. BTW - I just popped the cork and let it slow-ox for an hour or so before drinking.
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8/29/2012 - Baylorwine wrote: 91 Points
Drinking great right now. Tannins perfectly integrated at this point. Deep color, but light in mouth. In hind sight, it was probably the great acidity.
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6/4/2012 - daniel.jay wrote: 90 Points
1 hour decant; great nose of dark fruits, some baking spice. Initially disjointed, too acidic and hot on the palate - disconnect between the rich nose and astringent taste. Came together nicely over the next 90 minutes as flavors opened, alcohol subsided. Enjoyed, good QPR.
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3/8/2012 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 92 Points
Wow. Wow. Wow. Dark purple in the glass. Muscular legs. Medium body. The nose is an extravaganza of spice, forest, plums and ... fresh olives! On the palate, waves of musky, dusky berries, finished with fine minerals, sensuous tannins and luscious licorice at the pinnacle. Grand!
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2/12/2012 - shk5157 wrote: 88 Points
very strawberry; somewhat lacking complexity
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1/7/2012 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 91 Points
I'm a big fan of these '06 S. CA Syrah's ... big and chewy but still balanced and elegant ... this Tensley and a recent Melville were both just fun to drink. The Tensley i think is ready to drink now; it might get a bit better, but right now it's just a bottle of fun!
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10/29/2011 - Highmountain Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep red with hint of purple. Great nose with black fruit, tar, white pepper and wood. Concentrated palate with lots of fruit, soft tannins and a peppery finish.
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8/26/2011 - dave smigielski wrote: 91 Points
Poured into decanter. White pepper & blueberry on the nose inky black in color. Nose is reinforced by the palate. All I can say is juicy juicy. Juicy. At 32 this wine is fairly priced
As it gets more air time, the white pepper dissipates off the nose and the hammy notes start to emerge. Bring out your berries.
The giants are up 2-1 v Astros and the wife is at the game, which makes this wine a point and a half better. I hate commercials which take a half point away from the wine. The white pepper is now gone from the nose, but the palate still has hints of white pepper. Third pour and now the white pepper is replaced with a hint Of soy sauce that is really enjoyable. The palate is still big Jammy, on your face fruit. Which is also enjoyable. Giants still up 2-1 in the bottom of the 9th. 6 pitches, 6 fastballs. Is that the epitome of my life? Who knows. But damn the wine is good. I need a haircut. Game over gigantes win.
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7/15/2011 - iamandyc wrote: 93 Points
Yhis is getting better with age. A very impressive Syrah and great QPR. It is complex and deep and well integrated. Strong nose to match the palate. Earth, pepper, plum are all there. Great body to it.
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7/13/2011 - GalvezGuy wrote: 93 Points
Opened and left in glass for one hour. Wow on the nose, funky complex aromas of plum, blackberry, pepper, smoked meat, sage, earth, leather, olive. On the palate, candied plum, leather, blackberry, cracked pepper, olive, dill, tart blueberry. Finishes with sharp acidity and smooth tannins. I think that this needs at least five more years to knit together but it was a treate already. Oustanding, screams of Nothern Rhone instead of Santa Barbara.
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5/21/2011 - dave smigielski wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful perfume and blueberries on the nose, jet black in color. What a beautiful wine. This is ready to drink now and I see no reason to give it anymore time. I am typically not a fruit bomb kind of guy, but this was a great wine with dry aged, pasture fed Ribeye steaks from the grill. If you have a bottle of this, do it now, its awesome
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3/19/2011 - Rich S wrote: 90 Points
Big, bold, spicy, jammy, fruit laded syrah but not overdone. Really well made and balanced. Perfect wine to just sit back, sip and enjoy.
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1/15/2011 - herberto wrote: 88 Points
This is pretty good. Dense, chewy Syrah, with good lift, a little harsh on the tannins.
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12/23/2010 - smorris291 wrote: 90 Points
Teeth staining purple. Intense, mouthfilling dark fruits, olive and pepper. Not too hot despite >15% abv.
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10/15/2010 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 93 Points
Pal Joey! What a winner. Deep purple to the edge, with legs that just don't quit. Spicy and sophisticated on the nose. After an hour resting in the glass, the palate shimmers with boysenberries, nutmeg and cinnamon, with a finish that lasts and lasts. Outstandingly luscious. Day 2 Newsflash -- I just upped this a point. The berries are even deeper, like a compote of blackberries, raspberries and ripe blueberries. A final fresh ground pepper note is exhilarating!
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10/13/2010 - Paul Lin wrote: 87 Points
The Colson Canyon is usually one of Joey Tensley's most expressive Syrahs, but this vintage seems rather restrained and cool by comparison. Aromas of garrigue, flint, blueberries and crushed peppercorns. Full bodied on the palate with notes of red and black plums, wet soil, and iron. Soft tannins with low acidity. A bit pedestrian, unfortunately. 86-87 points.
Day 2: Poured myself another glass tonight, and while the general structure of the wine did not change, the flavors did seem better integrated. Therefore, I have decided to round my original score up to 87 points.
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10/10/2010 - 214/903guy wrote: 93 Points
Over the top, in your face Syrah. Fruit and Pepper jump out of the glass, however there is quite a bit of heat from the alcohol. When decanted a while and served at appropriate temperature, a noticable chocolate smell emerges. This wine has an excellent long finish.
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4/21/2010 - herberto wrote: 86 Points
Fine, I suppose. Nicely executed, sweet ripe Syrah with some serious tannic bite. But ultimately unexciting, to me at least. Both too ripe and too tannic to to show much nuance. Might resolve itself a little better with time.
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2/19/2010 - Badgerwino wrote:
Really enjoyed this intense syrah. Only wine I've bot from wineaccess that I didn't regret. Drank in a curious line up with Matchbook Tempranillo and 04 La Basetta. Wish I had a lot more of the Tensley.
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2/14/2010 - sterin wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured. Some nice flavors, but subdued. I had the 2007 a few weeks ago and it blew away the 2006.
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1/29/2010 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Filling in w/the Friday Brown Bag Group (Rich & Dana's): Deep garnet color. Notes of olivev, vanilla and dill, with a subtle citrusy/grapefruit quality. Flavors of red fruit dominate the palate, with hints of herbs and soil. Good balance, with a really nice finish. 90-92 pts.
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1/28/2010 - LewisW wrote:
nah
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1/1/2010 - kstoddard wrote: 90 Points
Black in color. Aromas of blackberry and leather. Flavors of blackberry, leather, raspberry, and black pepper. Nice freshness and acidity. Rich and full bodied with a heavy black pepper finish. 15.2% alcohol.
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12/28/2009 - chad1616 wrote: 91 Points
spicey, pepper - sophisticated nice.
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12/24/2009 - chad1616 wrote: 90 Points
peppery goodness, slight effervescence
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10/3/2009 - blondon wrote:
Popped and poured, enjoyed with a meal of veal saltimbocca served with arborio rice and wild mushrooms. Mirror image of my first bottle of this, elegant, sharp, acidic, rich, midweight with powerful elegance.
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9/29/2009 - pmarlo wrote: 90 Points
9/25/09-D first thing I noticed when uncorking was the bouquet. Very powerful. A potent wine with a bit of heat upon first pour. I think that will blow off with some air time in the glass. Deep purple in color, cork deeply stained. Legs ran in several waves and just kept coming. I would say medium. Based on this bottle I would seek out more. Think this will go for 5-10 years and I have two more to see just how it will shape up.
9/29/05-vacuum sealed for a day or two, then corked. Yes, I saved a glass until now and this wine has matured fabulously. The harsh edge I though I detected, or rather the distinct flavor that threw this off just a little, is all but gone, leaving a very smooth and well balanced tasty wine. It has lost nothing. The alcohol has also hung around but is dominated more by the fruit. I am going to predict 10 years of life. I know, Cali syrah in general don't go that far...but I'm betting this one will. I give a solid 90+
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9/7/2009 - JohnBlueLabel wrote: 90 Points
Lot's of nice blueberry and dark fruit on the nose. Day one the palate had a lot of strawberry, blackberry and a little bit of heat, with a lot of pepper on the back end. It was very tasty. Day 2, it became more complex, with some darker fruit, smoother, less pepper and just a much better structure. This is one of those wines that is better after 24 hours of air: it gains in complexity and structure. Day one it was probably an 88 to 89 point wine, but day 2 it clearly was a 90. Should have saved more for day 2!
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8/20/2009 - iamandyc wrote: 91 Points
Agree with EvanJB comments. It was delightful, open and expressive. A really good bottle of wine to snuggle up to.
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5/15/2009 - mmurmac wrote: 80 Points
REALLY tight. open for four hours and had no hint at unwinding. Really peppery, almost no fruit. Really dissapointing.
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5/1/2009 - EvanJB wrote: 90 Points
Very nice , fruity, smooth Syrah. Nice color. Very enjoyable with Chinese Chicken salad
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4/17/2009 - jwolfsthal wrote:
very bright and fruity, with a bit of dusty and even fizzy texture. Enjoyable and sweet, but not deep or as special as I had hoped.
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3/30/2009 - tgkswine wrote: 89 Points
Same as prior review...consumed two bottles with similar qualities.
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3/30/2009 - tgkswine wrote: 89 Points
Very fruity but peppery to a point of distraction. Some blueberry and a jammy quality. Enjoyable but not memorable.
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1/10/2009 - blondon wrote:
Popped and poured after the Saxum JBV and Broken Stones. This is an excellent syrah. Elegant, sharp, rich, nice weight and mouthfeel, long finish. Not as extracted as the Saxums, more along the lines of the Araujo syrahs. Graceful keeps coming to mind. Nice wine and great QPR.
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12/5/2008 - shakedown wrote: 90 Points
Not as peppery as the first bottle I tried but still nice brambly blueberry qualities with a very unique flowery/violet like quality. This is a rich young wine that will be fun to watch evolve.
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11/27/2008 - oaxaca90049 wrote:
took to Tiffany's bd OL. Too new world for them but I think it is very smooth with juicy fruit.
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11/16/2008 - tgkswine wrote: 90 Points
Enjoyable fruity wine. Aromatic nose pleasant but not overly complex. This wine is one of those great value wines that is great for every day enjoyment but one that I would not open at a formal dinner with wineophiles expecting a more complex pour. I will enjoy my remaining bottles and remember that this wine was purchased for $12!
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10/7/2008 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Sweet molten licorice, blueberry and some ripe edges. Some peppery/tar notes on finish. Pretty good.
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10/6/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 88 Points
Notes of blueberries, plums, garrigue, and cloves. Earth, iron, and peppercorns add to the palate. Finishes with some gritty tannins. Needs much more time.
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5/14/2008 - spautz wrote:
(Had at a tasting; no formal rating, but I would've scored this around 88-89.) Very rich, fruity, 'delicious' nose. Flavor was very dense and rich, with tons of cherry and strawberry and a very nice texture, but the heat and oak both very pronounced. Finish was long, but was dominated by the heat and oak. This seemed over-the-top even compared to other fruit bombs. Not my personal style.
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5/11/2008 - GreenDrazi wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 3 hr’s. Nice aromatics with blueberry, raspberry, game and white pepper along with flavors of red currants and anise with a touch of sweetness. Starts with fine, silky tannins with an oily, mouth coating viscosity that broadens on the mid-palate and finally gives way to fine detail towards the back of the palate. White pepper increases on the long and lingering finish.
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2/15/2008 - duggarm@outlook.com wrote: 93 Points
Lovely purple color with a soft floral bouquet. Really delicious wine. In the beginning the wine is a little chewey and the flavors are those of chocolate with hints of cola and liquorice wrapped up in a light violet bouquet. Wonderful balance and length and a great floatiness to the wine. Over time, the wine gets less chewey. The predominant flavor is cola, which is not something I am a huge fan of, but the wine remains in very good balance and has fantastic texture. Loved this wine on the whole and definitely for the price. I'd like to try their other vineyards as well
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1/3/2008 - mattiasjansson wrote: 92 Points
Backstreet - No theme (Backstreet Wine Salon, Phoenix): Young. Blueberry and blackberry. A bit syrupy but very nice fruit.
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1/3/2008 - goofy Yno wrote: 92 Points
blueberry, good balance and mouth feel. a very good wine that suffer by being in a flight following two Chave Hermitages.
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12/23/2007 - Kale wrote: 92 Points
I am writing this review on the third night after this bottle was opened. It has completely opened up. Deep purple color. Pleasant nose of raspberry and cherry. Nice mouthfeel with flavors of raspberries and blackberry jam. This is beautiful New World style Syrah.
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12/20/2007 - TLHWG wrote: 83 Points
Well balanced wine but IMO obvious *fakeness* on the nose and palate, e.g., artificial flavoring, etc., which IMO is detrimental. Would not buy again, but would definitely recommend to those who prefer new world wines.
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12/14/2007 - Nesto wrote: 92 Points
Loved it. Dark, cherry and strawberry on the nose. Sour cherry, strawberry jam, plum flavors. Has just enough tannin to stay in balance
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11/21/2007 - cbuhlman wrote: 84 Points
jammy, too sweet, too flabby, too much alcohol, no character. This style is not to my liking.
back to Rhone.
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11/12/2007 - HurrahSyrah wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. This wine exhibited a dark garnet/purple color with a nose filled with concentrated scents of raspberries, blueberries and blackberries with hints of red licorice and tar. On the palate, rich, ripe flavors of black raspberries and blueberries were accentuated by spicy notes. Expansive mouthfeel with well integrated tannins. Nice, lengthy finish. Another beauty by Tensley. HS93
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