Opaque ruby core -> deep ruby rim edging to diffuse garnet. Bouquet of WET NASTY NEWSPAPERS LEFT TO ROT IN A BOSTON BASEMENT FOR 20 YEARS! Damn . . . . Corked! And the last bottle too! Ah well, it happens.
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Surprised it made it this far. Lots of sediment coating the bottle. Dark purple. No bricking. Sweet and lush; port like. Oak is well integrated. Interesting and still good but a little on the tired side. 15.0% abv. Drink up!
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Last tasted 6/16 and that note, upon rereading, is still spot on.
Color: deep, dark ruby-> dark ruby rim. Bouquet of blackberries, kirsch, wet slate and white pepper. Big, big, palate of blackcurrant, blackberry compote, minerals and black licorice. Black fruit is still massive and presents a slightly sweet attack; no mistaking this for an old-world Syrah. Tannins have fully resolved at this point, the acidity is good and the finish is still quite long -- though there is a bit of alcohol/heat poking through on that finish (15.0%). Delicious still and I would say for plenty of time to come. A little sweeter (vs. savoury) than I would like, but still pretty good stuff. At a 92 the song remains the same . . . .
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Popped and poured. A tiny bit of fruit has faded and for me, it makes this wine even better. A bit of acid has come forward to add succulence and balance and tertiary flavors are beginning to show. Still, plenty of fruit. Positive developments. 92+
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What a nose! This bottle was one of those you could just smell all night. Very expressive, the fruit still pleasant, but there amongst earth, pepper and cold climate syrah aromas. Perhaps not quite as thrilling on the palate, the acidity was obvious enough that food is in order. The best showing of several bottles
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fading. a little disjointed. there's some charcoal, blue fruit, and just a little tannin supporting everything. It would benefit from some VA on the finish.
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This was consumed alongside a 2005 Stolpman Angeli, another santa barbara county syrah. In comparison, the Tensley was bigger. with a distinct pepper note the other wine lacked. Not as aromatically expressive. 92ish
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Color: deep, dark ruby-> dark ruby rim. Bouquet of blackberries, kirsch, wet slate and white pepper. Big, big, palate of blackcurrant, blackberries, minerals and black licorice. Black fruit is still pretty massive and, interestingly, presents a slightly sweet attack. Tannins have resolved at this point, the acidity is good and the finish is still quite long -- though there is a bit of alcohol/heat poking through on that finish (15.0%). Delicious still and I would say for plenty of time to come. A little sweeter (vs. savoury) than I would like, but still pretty good stuff.
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In my opinion, this is drinking very well right now. While still big, it has lost some of that Aussie ooze monster character these wines sometimes have young. No perceptible residual sweetness. (something I sometimes get from Tensley syrah) plenty of fruit, but also with some blood and meat. Long finish. 92-93ish
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This is at its peak. Fantastic juice with great fruit garnished with savory elements of burnt meat, blood, and celery. A little smoke and char are present. Great balance and interesting texture. Its 15% abv was hidden and it finished long. This has morphed tremendously since my last bottle. This demolished an 09 Reynvaan Syrah In the Rocks vineyard. Drink within next 3-4 years. Great bottle. Nice job Joey.
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This wine is over-the-top candied jammy black and blue fruits with a slight prune finish. Smooth but shockingly drying tannins for such a sweet wine. The wine is such a fruit bomb that it is a caricature of fruit bombs, and this took it down a couple points for me. Plus as the wine got more air, the prune element started to come through more.
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Popn and poured. followed over 5 hours at a 40th dinner party with non-wine geeks (NWG)
Since my last bottle 2 years ago, this has gotten a bit more round with some hard edges. There is a mild bit of sweetness fighting a savory overtone. Stored sideways, there is considerable sediment. I detected no heat. I'd stand up the bottle for a few days then pop.
Also benefited from air. Tastes during hours 3-5 were better than the initial. Overall, this was slightly better than ok. Not sure its 92CT now in my book. Definitely not a bad wine though.
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Quite a bit of sediment coating the bottle. Dark purple. No bricking. Still surprising sweet and lush; almost port like. Moderate oak is well integrated. Tasty and intresting, but I would enjoy this more as a stand alone wine (or dessert wine) as I opposed to smething that would pair well with food.
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Pop and pour, has developed nicely. Oak has integrated and presents as baking spice, adding interest to a full bodied central coast Syrah offering layers of red and dark fruit.
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Drinking beautifully, consumed over three days (I should drink faster I know). No bricking, subdued nose, a little earthy funk, little oak with just hints of dark fruits. Lush and velvety on the palate with sweet blue and black fruits, tannins integrated but definitely still present. Don't think this is getting any worse anytime soon. Think it still has the stuffing to go 3-4 more years. Got better as it went, agree with others on a short decant.
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Decanted for three hours...was nervous about this as it had lost some of its color...rust-like around the edge...very closed at first...fortunate to have decanted as it really opened up with dark fruit, but the pepper was lacking on this one...nice finish.
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Pop and pour the sat in the glass for 30 minutes. This is a big wine filled with much more black and blue fruit than the last time. Rich and layered. Very nice.
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Last of six bottles purchased in 2009; after almost 7 years, it's still big, mouth coating, and "in your face". Aromas of smoke, baking spices, and caramel, chocked full of black and blue berries, sweet black licorice. Great balance and long finish.
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Somehow, this bottle was a Tensley '07, not a Tensley '10. Happy error! Profound Colson Canyon Syrah at its peak. Pulsing waves of florals on the nose. Long-legged indigo in the glass. Brilliant bevies of bright and dark berries on the palate, backed by baking spices and cedar tones. Oh, Joe, Way To Go!!
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Brought to dinner at friends. Popped and poured. Black fruit still predominating with vanilla, pepper, herbs. Full bodied, silkly smooth with strong finish. Very nice with long life still ahead. Alas, last 2 bottles of the case.
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Decanted for an hour and drank over the next three. Third time I've had this wine but the first time I really enjoyed it to the level others have. The palate is layered with red fruit with a punch of jam in a good way. Long finish has white pepper. Deb enjoyed it even more.
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Dark red, purple fruits. Some mild savory quality. Thick rich textures. 30 second finish. Probably needs more time in bottle, but may be just entering its drinking window.
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Lots of spice and pepper at first after a 30min wine opened up with more red fruit and slight sweetness. The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Raspberry, Raisin, High Toast, Oak, and Black Pepper. It tastes like Strawberry, Strawberry Jam, Dust, and Black Pepper. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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A sharp blast of cola, dried herbs and flowers, not a lot of pepper. Too sweet for my taste. Was every so slightly carbonated, which wasn't a good sign. Not my style of syrah. Opened the Hunt Que Sirah Syrah after and it showed much much better.
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This wine continues to impress. I juxtaposed this wine against the 2001 Elderton Command Shiraz. The Tensley was far superior. Full bodied but elegant, this wine packs a punch but without the overly peppery taste you get from some young Syrahs. The quality to price ratio with this wine is just crazy. Unfortunately, Tensely won't be riding under the radar for much longer.
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Color: deep, dark purple -> dense purple/ruby rim; very youthful appearance. Bouquet of blackberries, kirsch, minerals. Huge palate of black currants, blackberries, wet stone and other jammy dark fruits. Massive fruit component that is amazingly well balanced with a great acid level. Tannins are moderate and the finish is quite long. A wonderful wine that has just a bit of alcohol poking through at the end of the finish. Delicious now and undoubtedly for plenty of time to come. Enjoyed over two nights with no change in character whatsoever.
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Great concentration of dark black fruits. Huge sweetness and ripeness on the palate, but balanced with strong acidity so not cloying, but still fresh and refreshing. Great wine. Soft supple tannins and high alcohol. Drinking well now.
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Spectacular, sophisticated, sinuous, sleek Syrah, the way Joey Tensley knows how to do it. Gorgeous in the glass, a translucent deep ruby feast for the eyes. Enticing aromas of berries and brambles for the nose. Blueberries, huckleberries and lingonberries on the palate, with smooth tannins and autumn spices following the bright entrance. The finish lingers, revealing layers of seasonal delights without losing the berries, the berries, the berries. Absolutely lovely.
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This beat out an 03 longshadows sequel by Duvall tonight. This bottle was all about warm blueberry cobbler, blueberry compote, and entenmann's berry breakfast cake your grand mother seved when you were a kid. no significant savory notes or flavors evident tonight. There was alcohol present in the nose, palate, and finish which was almost completely balanced by the massive fruit.
Drank 1/2 the bottle over 2+ hours - delicious, big yet smooth fruit that only got better with time. 2nd half drank really well the 2nd night. Great now with a long decant or has enough stuff to hold too.
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2 hours in the decanter and this baby was singing. Big and ripe nose of kirsch, carmelized cherries, rasberries. Great mouthfeel and a beautiful finish. Getting better and better. I think this will easily go for 5+ more years. Well done Joey. 93
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A little heat on the nose out of the gate, the aromas were dark blue/black fruit and spicebox. Decanted 2 hours which softened the heat. The palate showed moderate tannin and a minty menthol finish that surprises with latent fruit on the back end. Smooth but firm wine. No round edges. Great wine that, while fruit forward in itself, was not as complex nor forward as the 06 Efeste Jolie Bouche we drank tonight. 92-93pts
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I've been sitting on this wine for 4+ years. Been anxious to taste it after visiting the Tensley tasting room in Los Olivos. A really dark color. There was no nose on opening, but a few minutes later I was able to smell fruit. This is a full, rich, chewy wine. I did taste some chocolate and tobacco, along with fruit. I'll drink my other bottle in 3 years. No rush. It was fun seeing my daughter swirling the wine in the glass. At around $35, this was one heck of a QPR.
A nose of dark fruits and spice, dark purple in color. A full bodied single vineyard Syrah, with blackberry, cassis, black currants and earthy spice. Was very good just expected more with the ratings hype.
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Oh hells ya. Big and thick, velvety smooth. A big bowl of blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream out in a field of wild flowers --- thats what this smelled like. As the wine rolled around in my mouth it caressed every little pocket. I love this syrah. 4 more to go. Yay... 92++
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Vinturied and decanted for two hours. Very deep purple-black in the glass. Fragrant nose of blackberries and violets with a hint of vanilla. Smooth to the taste, well-integrated tannins, wonderfully balanced. The WOTN for all six of us against another Cali Syrah, two Aussie Shirazes, and two Northern Rhones: a Hermitage and a Vin de Pays.
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Almost black in the glass. Deep blackberry flavors and nice acidity. Not as complex as the best Syrah but losing the jaminess of its youth. Can drink now but will just get better.
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Decanted for 60 minutes. This didn't have anything good going on. One dimensional syrupy olive juice. A wall of fruit and a flat mid palate. Tasted this young and it was a lot better. I usually like Joey's wines, very disappointed in how this bottle turned out.
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Was pumped to open this. Decanted and sat for 1 hour. Might have needed more time but it just wasn't doing it for me. I LOVED it at the tasting room. Not sure if it was an off bottle or what.
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Popped, poured and drank over two nights. Just kept getting better. Night one, plum, spice, vanilla. Night two, fruit muted somewhat allowing a better balance with the spice, leather, pepper, smoke. Full bodied, smoooooooth, long finish. I was amazed at how it held up on night two. This is a long lived wine which is still young.
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An absolutely gorgeous wine, probably one of my favorite California Syrahs. Plenty of dark blackberry and blueberry fruit with notes of spice, vanilla, and smoke. Opaque, deep purple with a full bodied texture. This wine will blow you away: complex, elegant, and very approachable. This is the fifth of six bottles that I purchased in 2009, I only wish I had bought a case! I usually decant for 30 mins to an hour, and it opens very quickly. Provides a nice balanced finish; refined tannins.
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big fruity characteristic of syrah, but refined and elegant. still drinking a little young. deep ruby/purply color. Nice finish, though not particularly long.
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Slow ox for 7+ hours and then decanted for 3+ hours (more than planned). Deep, deep, dark wine. A little late in the night for formal notes but a nice wine.
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Decanted 2 hours. Gorgeous dark shimmering color. Fabulous nose of stewed blue fruits and caramelized cherries. Great length and flavor, with tons of fruit. HUGE wine. A monster. One to share, as I was exhausted by the 3rd glass. For the $32 I paid, insane QPR. Glad I have 5 more. 93
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Popped, breathed in bottle 24 hours. Well concentrated dark fruit, rich, round. Interest seems to be generated by some deftly woven toasty oak notes. A solid citizen, easy to drink, but wish it had a little more personality. No problem with heat to my heat sensitive palate. Should be a crowd pleaser.
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Had this about two years ago and was relatively unimpressed (with respect to the high praise). This bottle is a completely different beast. Massive but extremely well balanced. Smoked meat, sulfur, and zounds of raspberry, cranberry, bing cherry, and newly cut oak. This is still so young and fresh but more obviously beautiful. Clean, pure, and precise on the palate, delivering the promise of the nose and lasting over a minute. This is stellar; it's no wonder this is trading at double it's original offering price. Drink now and over the next ten years. 94
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This is a fabulous syrah. Rich, powerful yet refined enough tannins that allow the wine to go well with food. Love the chocolate and grilled meat overtones. Wish I bought more
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New World Wines - Blind (Jace's House - Bethesda, MD): Tightly packed nose of blackberries, blueberries, toast and meat drippings. Palate was silky smooth with blueberry compote, peppered blackberries, wood smoke, herbs, and meat. The heat spiked a bit on the finish throwing off the balance, but like a couple other of the syrahs this night, aging them will probably solve this issue of mine.
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Gorgeous color. Terrific nose with berries and spice evident. My second bottle of this and well worth the wait. Outstanding Syrah. Elegant example. Aging has only helped. I will wait for last bottle at least one more year. A personal favorite!
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Timeless and classic. A great benchmark for syrah - fruit and finish and all in between. Pop and pour and even when chilled from the wine storage - killer juice.
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beautiful dark purple color. on the nose i get black cherries and black berries and a interesting elephant poop, like from the zoo, scent with a hint of vanilla and some spice. on the palate there is tons of gorgeous fruit. lots of grapey grape and cherry and plum, vanilla and spice and everything nice! on the finish there is great acidity with some oakiness to balance the fruit and firm tannins that all come together to make one hell of a wine!!! WELL DONE!!!!!
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This is my third bottle. First one a couple years ago was pretty good and then one early last year was closed. I think this has opened up again and is in a good spot. Hard to beat the QPR of Tensley wines.
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Tasted blind. I guessed that this was a southern Rhone Syrah. Similar to the previous bottle, but it seems to have picked up some extra depth. Dark purple red. Very nice Plum, blackberry, toast, and pepper on the nose. The palate is medium-full. The fruit is very clean and defined. Masculine and a little burly, but with very good balance with acidity and tannins. Long, enjoyable finish. Really excellent.
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Took this with brother Jim to tailgaiting party on the campus of USC, prior to their dominant performance against Cal. This is a fantastic syrah that has never failed to impress me over the last two years, with an abundance of black and blue fruit, and just enough acidic backbone to keep the fruit in check. Good length on the finish, leaving you wanting for more. Still have a few left, and I hope to keep at least one for a vertical tasting, along with the 2008 and recently delivered 2009 when they are ready to go.
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I hate to fault it for being different, but this is very much a 1-note wine. Dark (basically black) and brooding, but essentially zero complexity (zero acidity). This would be a good cocktail hour wine, definitely not for the dinner table.
The "like a laser beam of purple fruit" comment is dead-on.
Hold last one until at least 2015 to see if any acidity is hiding underneath.
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Brought to friends for the weekend. First bottle of the night. Decanted and began drinking. Developed over the hour it took to finish. Consistent with earlier notes. Wonderful wine.
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I still think this one's great. The guys love it, but the women are mixed. I'd love to see how it ages, but it's so good, we're running low. Bold fruit, a bit hot initially, gets smooth after aerator and decanter 1 hr. I think this is way better than the 08.
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Great syrah....let breathe a couple of hours....a little more alcohol than I typically like, but integrates pretty well. Should be outstanding in another year or two.
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Inky dark purple, this is a rich, full-fruit forward but well-intergrated California syrah. Deep blueberry and blackberry flavors, but thankfully not too sweet and not as hot as the 15% alcohol might suggest. Smooth tannins despite its youth, but overall not complex enough to push this into the rareified 95+ territpory. Nevertheless, a very well-made wine that should be even better in 2 years or more.
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The last bottle they had at the Matchbox in Eastern Market. Very nice. The flavor profile for this wine is remarkably consistent between the '07 and '08 - both with a wall of berries on both the nose and pallet. Great concentration for the price.
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Decanted at restaurant. Another incredible bottle. Dark ink look in the glass. Very fruit forward early on that balanced out after an hour or so. Each sip better than the last. Notes of chocolate, blackberry, but good acidity to balance the sweetness. A bit of heat at first but blew off quickly. A bit of pepper spice shows up at the finish which lasted for a minute or more. Another wow from Joey Tensley from us.
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What a great wine! This wine is excellent at its young age. I detected bacon on the nose, along with all the other fruit. This wine is great for sipping or pairing with a steak. I can see why Joey sold out of this so quickly.
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Big, yes; rich, yes; intensely black, yes; but it's neither heavy nor syrupy nor jammy, wears its 15% alcohol well with only a trace of heat, and shows quite a bit of character even at this young age. Most impressively, it shows good acidity, a dash of black pepper, and plenty of licorice-streaked minerality amid all that dense, primary, blackberry fruit. That 80% of the barrels used to age this wine were neutral surely helped. It's a bit absurd to be drinking this now — I'd check back in perhaps 3 years from now — but even now it's clearly a reference point for new world syrah.
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Needs a lot of time in the decanter. Is really very very good the next day. Its a little tight, tough, and hot out of the gate, though. Next time, I'm decanting at least 6 hours. Noticing some variation in bottles I've tasted as well.
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Wonderful! Beautiful fruit, some spice and a long smooth finish that you wish would last even longer. Tasted against 2008 which is hotter and needs way more time. Though 2008 should be very good, 2007 is outstanding.
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Big, sweet, and syrupy sweet right out of the bottle. An hour later it really started to integrate well and was firing on all cylinders. Just a gorgeous evolution to watch over the night.
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P&P; tasted over 5 hours. Very deep magenta ruby color. Nose > Huge, aromatic, flowery, huckleberry, sweet black cherry liqueur, black plum, smoky-creamy oak perfume, leather, mulberry, grainy blue, black & purple fruit with creosote, raw lean beef & pepper. Palate > Rich/sweet luscious smoky huckleberry, bitter chocolate, cassis & black cherry palate. Fruity, spicy & rich. Fairly long flavor & finish. Medium concentration. Big wine (15% ABV on label), but no heat showing through on nose or palate. A Very nice wine; better on the nose than on the palate.
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Dark purple red. Very nice Plum, blackberry, toast, and pepper on the nose. The palate is medium-full. The fruit is very clean and defined. Very good balance with acidity and tannins. Long, enjoyable finish. Really a very nice wine, but for me, doesn't have the extra character to push it into "outstanding" territory.
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Wow, what a bottle. After a 3.5 hour decant this wine was showing really well. Tons of cigar/tobacco on the nose with licorice and meaty notes on the palate. This wine is extremely well balanced and has a long finish. I have one more bottle and will definitely buy a few more.
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Filling in w/the Friday Brown Bag Group (Rich & Dana's): Inky purple color - how did this get into the first flight? Notes of mint, dark fruit, and boysenberry with meaty overtones. Tannins are sweet, with falvors of dark fruit, spice, blueberries and caramel. Well-balanced. Easy to pick out as Cali syrah, but not sure of the appellation.
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Pop and pour. After being open for 2 hours this has improved although the bouquet was great from the moment it was opened. Plum, blueberry, blackberry, earthy, floral and smoke. This is rich but not heavy. Elegant and balanced yet complex. My first Tensley and this is very well made.
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Jan 2010 Connecticut Wine Tasting (Henry's House - Fairfield CT): Wine "F" - This bottle was the last one of a blind tasting and by that time we were all having a good time that the formal notes were left blank. I had to check with the host to confirm the actual wine and vintage. But the few brain cells left recall this was another really good wine, with inky purple color and a lot of ripe fruit but not jammy or overwhelming. This bottle fit right in with other costing 3-5 times as much. Overall a great tasting line up with every wine prompting a lot of good conversation about their merits.
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One of the last bottles open at a tasting event at my house. Decanted 3 hours before. Consistent with earlier notes. Just a great wine. Too bad it was at the end of the night.
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Dark purple red Syrah, and the color is emphasized in the dark, inky nose. Great black fruit, very fruit forward, but also some other complex notes, lead, earth. It’s a big, spicy, alcoholic wine with lots of tannins, thick, unctuous, and mouthwatering. With all that it's amazingly balanced, and drinkable now. I imagine it will age well, and I've had it decanted for a few hours, and opened for just a few minutes, great either way. Went well with salami, olives, and some hard cheeses. About $40, it’s a steal, but not widely available (read, sold out everywhere!).
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Spectacular wine that easily drinks 2-3x above its price point. Definitely new world (and not shy of showing its fruit), but the fruit is so elegant and seamlessly integrated with just the right amount of earth and pepper, that it creates a complexity that is both intriguing and accessible. We served it to wine drinkers and non-wine drinkers, and old and new world aficionados alike, and I have never seem such universal praise for a bottle of wine--people were fighting for the last drops! At $40, the most amazing QPR I've had so far.
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After traveling in Texas for a week, took this bottle to the restaurant for dinner with D on the first night back. Wanted something special and this delivered. I opened the bottle about 2 hours prior to drinking and it was ready to go when we poured. Great nose of plum, blackberry with earth notes. Amazing palate of pure fruit with a perfect structure. A wonderful finish. Full bodied with silky tannins.
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Superb from the get go. Big, meaty and complex. Leather, blackberry, spice and roasted pumpkin seeds. Satisfying grip and incredible finish. An outstanding California syrah in all respects.
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A beautiful Syrah. Dark purple and opaque. Nose has blueberry, orange blossom, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, and oak hiding in the background. After a few hours of decanting, some beef jerky character becomes apparent. Silky, pure, and balanced with purple fruit and meatiness. Sour plum and spicy oak on the back end. Has good weight; rich while not heavy.
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Decanted for 1 hour prior to dinner. Fragrant nose of berry fruit and some smoke. Tannins present in background but fruit is amazing. Black cherry,smoke, some earthy tones. Very smooth on palate and lovely lingering, long finish that makes it seem as if this is 5 years old. Great now, but will be better with some age. Hope I can resist opening the rest over a couple of years. This is a truly wonderful syrah.
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Decanted for 1/2 hour. The tannins were overpowering in the first glass but smoothed out after another 1/2 hour of air time. Plum, berry nose. Intense fruit on the palate with peppery, earth notes in a full bodied wine. The overwhelming sensation is the purity of the fruit coming through in a good way, not jammy or overly sweet. Medium length finish. This should continue to develop for a number of years and is definitly a winner at Tensley's wine club pricing. I also got the 10th anniversary version of this and I assume it will need more bottle time based on this bottle. Probably try one of those in a year. 9/2009 update. Parker just rated the 10th Anniversary edition a 98 with only 2 barrels produced. Feels nice to be ahead of the curve for once.
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Fantastic wine. Not much to say, except overwhelmed by how good this was. Great balance, incredibly smooth, good mouthfeel, nice finish. Pepper and game, hints of secondary components that make me believe this will age nicely, raspberry and blackberry dominated. Unmistakably Rhone. Wish I had more.
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1/10/2021 - BVal wrote: flawed
Opaque ruby core -> deep ruby rim edging to diffuse garnet.
Bouquet of WET NASTY NEWSPAPERS LEFT TO ROT IN A BOSTON BASEMENT FOR 20 YEARS!
Damn . . . . Corked! And the last bottle too!
Ah well, it happens.
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10/22/2019 - StainedGlass wrote: 89 Points
Surprised it made it this far. Lots of sediment coating the bottle. Dark purple. No bricking. Sweet and lush; port like. Oak is well integrated. Interesting and still good but a little on the tired side. 15.0% abv. Drink up!
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6/24/2019 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Last tasted 6/16 and that note, upon rereading, is still spot on.
Color: deep, dark ruby-> dark ruby rim. Bouquet of blackberries, kirsch, wet slate and white pepper. Big, big, palate of blackcurrant, blackberry compote, minerals and black licorice. Black fruit is still massive and presents a slightly sweet attack; no mistaking this for an old-world Syrah. Tannins have fully resolved at this point, the acidity is good and the finish is still quite long -- though there is a bit of alcohol/heat poking through on that finish (15.0%). Delicious still and I would say for plenty of time to come. A little sweeter (vs. savoury) than I would like, but still pretty good stuff. At a 92 the song remains the same . . . .
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3/19/2019 - rsbeck wrote: 92 Points
2nd bottle of the evening. Similar notes. 92+
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3/19/2019 - rsbeck wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. A tiny bit of fruit has faded and for me, it makes this wine even better. A bit of acid has come forward to add succulence and balance and tertiary flavors are beginning to show. Still, plenty of fruit. Positive developments. 92+
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11/24/2018 - thalver wrote: 93 Points
What a nose! This bottle was one of those you could just smell all night. Very expressive, the fruit still pleasant, but there amongst earth, pepper and cold climate syrah aromas. Perhaps not quite as thrilling on the palate, the acidity was obvious enough that food is in order. The best showing of several bottles
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8/11/2018 - arthrovine wrote:
fading. a little disjointed. there's some charcoal, blue fruit, and just a little tannin supporting everything. It would benefit from some VA on the finish.
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3/28/2018 - prism wrote: 93 Points
Lovely; the last of four bottles. Smooth, rich, and deep. The fruit here is gorgeous. These are very well-made wines.
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3/27/2017 - thalver wrote:
This was consumed alongside a 2005 Stolpman Angeli, another santa barbara county syrah. In comparison, the Tensley was bigger. with a distinct pepper note the other wine lacked. Not as aromatically expressive. 92ish
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6/10/2016 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Last tasted 12/12.
Color: deep, dark ruby-> dark ruby rim. Bouquet of blackberries, kirsch, wet slate and white pepper. Big, big, palate of blackcurrant, blackberries, minerals and black licorice. Black fruit is still pretty massive and, interestingly, presents a slightly sweet attack. Tannins have resolved at this point, the acidity is good and the finish is still quite long -- though there is a bit of alcohol/heat poking through on that finish (15.0%). Delicious still and I would say for plenty of time to come. A little sweeter (vs. savoury) than I would like, but still pretty good stuff.
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5/1/2016 - thalver wrote:
In my opinion, this is drinking very well right now. While still big, it has lost some of that Aussie ooze monster character these wines sometimes have young. No perceptible residual sweetness. (something I sometimes get from Tensley syrah) plenty of fruit, but also with some blood and meat. Long finish. 92-93ish
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2/27/2016 - arthrovine wrote: 94 Points
Popped and poured. Followed over 4 hours.
This is at its peak. Fantastic juice with great fruit garnished with savory elements of burnt meat, blood, and celery. A little smoke and char are present. Great balance and interesting texture. Its 15% abv was hidden and it finished long. This has morphed tremendously since my last bottle. This demolished an 09 Reynvaan Syrah In the Rocks vineyard. Drink within next 3-4 years. Great bottle. Nice job Joey.
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5/18/2015 - mxpbuy wrote: 89 Points
This wine is over-the-top candied jammy black and blue fruits with a slight prune finish. Smooth but shockingly drying tannins for such a sweet wine. The wine is such a fruit bomb that it is a caricature of fruit bombs, and this took it down a couple points for me. Plus as the wine got more air, the prune element started to come through more.
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3/15/2015 - arthrovine wrote: 89 Points
Popn and poured. followed over 5 hours at a 40th dinner party with non-wine geeks (NWG)
Since my last bottle 2 years ago, this has gotten a bit more round with some hard edges. There is a mild bit of sweetness fighting a savory overtone. Stored sideways, there is considerable sediment. I detected no heat. I'd stand up the bottle for a few days then pop.
Also benefited from air. Tastes during hours 3-5 were better than the initial. Overall, this was slightly better than ok. Not sure its 92CT now in my book. Definitely not a bad wine though.
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2/7/2015 - prism wrote: 93 Points
No formal notes, but luscious and ridiculously easy to drink.
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2/4/2015 - StainedGlass wrote:
Quite a bit of sediment coating the bottle. Dark purple. No bricking. Still surprising sweet and lush; almost port like. Moderate oak is well integrated. Tasty and intresting, but I would enjoy this more as a stand alone wine (or dessert wine) as I opposed to smething that would pair well with food.
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1/20/2015 - rsbeck wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour, has developed nicely. Oak has integrated and presents as baking spice, adding interest to a full bodied central coast Syrah offering layers of red and dark fruit.
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12/24/2014 - JJA wrote: 88 Points
This hasn't aged as well as I expected. It's a bit too sweet and grapey. Drink it up.
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12/18/2014 - Giggs wrote: 91 Points
Good. Hot. But good. 91-92
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11/9/2014 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice. Ruby - purple color. Blueberry, smoke, a little licorice. Still medium-full palate. No rough edges now, very easy to drink.
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9/19/2014 - Kdog wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully, consumed over three days (I should drink faster I know). No bricking, subdued nose, a little earthy funk, little oak with just hints of dark fruits. Lush and velvety on the palate with sweet blue and black fruits, tannins integrated but definitely still present. Don't think this is getting any worse anytime soon. Think it still has the stuffing to go 3-4 more years. Got better as it went, agree with others on a short decant.
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9/12/2014 - hanasowner wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for three hours...was nervous about this as it had lost some of its color...rust-like around the edge...very closed at first...fortunate to have decanted as it really opened up with dark fruit, but the pepper was lacking on this one...nice finish.
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7/8/2014 - PSUSteve wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour the sat in the glass for 30 minutes. This is a big wine filled with much more black and blue fruit than the last time. Rich and layered. Very nice.
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5/24/2014 - wmccone54 wrote: 93 Points
Last of six bottles purchased in 2009; after almost 7 years, it's still big, mouth coating, and "in your face". Aromas of smoke, baking spices, and caramel, chocked full of black and blue berries, sweet black licorice. Great balance and long finish.
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4/29/2014 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 94 Points
Somehow, this bottle was a Tensley '07, not a Tensley '10. Happy error! Profound Colson Canyon Syrah at its peak. Pulsing waves of florals on the nose. Long-legged indigo in the glass. Brilliant bevies of bright and dark berries on the palate, backed by baking spices and cedar tones. Oh, Joe, Way To Go!!
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4/19/2014 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 90 Points
Very nice. Ruby - purple color. Blueberry, smoke, a little licorice. Still medium-full palate. No rough edges now, very easy to drink.
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3/21/2014 - hammie1234 wrote: 93 Points
Star of the Tensley night: rich, full bodied. We loved it.
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3/7/2014 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 91 Points
tasted with 4 other syrahs ... this was the 2nd choice; only behind a Ramey 2005
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2/6/2014 - mdfuller Likes this wine: 92 Points
this was one of the best Syrah i have had in many moons ... just perfectly balanced with structure, alcohol and fruit. Drinking superbly right now.
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1/11/2014 - wendyinwlv wrote: 89 Points
Nice solid syrah. A bit sweet, but smooth and opened up to a bit of a floral nose.
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12/24/2013 - dhammer53 wrote: 92 Points
Drank this at our Hanukkah party with brisket. A hint of fruit. Not sweet. Nice color. A delicious and smooth wine. My last bottle.
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11/26/2013 - hanasowner wrote: 94 Points
Opened 30 minutes before first pour...as good a bottle of this that I've had.
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10/29/2013 - dmitchell4 wrote: 94 Points
The Colson canyon always amazes guests, surprises me too. Poured right out of the bottle, let it come up top temp and drank superbly!
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4/28/2013 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 95 Points
Super Duper Joey Tensley Syrah at the peak of its wonderfulness. Shared with Jesse and Amanda.
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3/26/2013 - HOS Likes this wine: 93 Points
Brought to dinner at friends. Popped and poured. Black fruit still predominating with vanilla, pepper, herbs. Full bodied, silkly smooth with strong finish. Very nice with long life still ahead. Alas, last 2 bottles of the case.
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3/16/2013 - PSUSteve Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for an hour and drank over the next three. Third time I've had this wine but the first time I really enjoyed it to the level others have. The palate is layered with red fruit with a punch of jam in a good way. Long finish has white pepper. Deb enjoyed it even more.
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3/15/2013 - arthrovine wrote: 91 Points
Dark red, purple fruits. Some mild savory quality. Thick rich textures. 30 second finish. Probably needs more time in bottle, but may be just entering its drinking window.
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1/6/2013 - bundydavis wrote: 95 Points
Spectacular! One hour decant. This wine has everything I love in a Syrah. Silky, fruity and balanced. Highly recommend.
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12/28/2012 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 94 Points
Marvelous. This is what Syrah was meant to be. Bold, powerful, sophisticated, layered and rich. Colson Canyon and Joey Tensley rock!
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12/26/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 92 Points
Solid
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12/21/2012 - mptorpey Likes this wine: 85 Points
Lots of spice and pepper at first after a 30min wine opened up with more red fruit and slight sweetness.
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like Raspberry, Raisin, High Toast, Oak, and Black Pepper. It tastes like Strawberry, Strawberry Jam, Dust, and Black Pepper. The body is Medium. The wine has Smooth texture. The wine finishes Medium.
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12/21/2012 - puppetclause Does not like this wine: 88 Points
A sharp blast of cola, dried herbs and flowers, not a lot of pepper. Too sweet for my taste. Was every so slightly carbonated, which wasn't a good sign. Not my style of syrah. Opened the Hunt Que Sirah Syrah after and it showed much much better.
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12/8/2012 - JJA wrote: 95 Points
This wine continues to impress. I juxtaposed this wine against the 2001 Elderton Command Shiraz. The Tensley was far superior. Full bodied but elegant, this wine packs a punch but without the overly peppery taste you get from some young Syrahs. The quality to price ratio with this wine is just crazy. Unfortunately, Tensely won't be riding under the radar for much longer.
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12/7/2012 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Color: deep, dark purple -> dense purple/ruby rim; very youthful appearance. Bouquet of blackberries, kirsch, minerals. Huge palate of black currants, blackberries, wet stone and other jammy dark fruits. Massive fruit component that is amazingly well balanced with a great acid level. Tannins are moderate and the finish is quite long. A wonderful wine that has just a bit of alcohol poking through at the end of the finish. Delicious now and undoubtedly for plenty of time to come.
Enjoyed over two nights with no change in character whatsoever.
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12/5/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 93 Points
Never fails. just KILLER with lamb chops and spinach gratin.... 93
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11/25/2012 - SB5784 wrote: 94 Points
Great concentration of dark black fruits. Huge sweetness and ripeness on the palate, but balanced with strong acidity so not cloying, but still fresh and refreshing. Great wine. Soft supple tannins and high alcohol. Drinking well now.
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10/15/2012 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 94 Points
This bottle is equally spectacular as my last. Superb Syrah. Period.
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10/2/2012 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 94 Points
Spectacular, sophisticated, sinuous, sleek Syrah, the way Joey Tensley knows how to do it. Gorgeous in the glass, a translucent deep ruby feast for the eyes. Enticing aromas of berries and brambles for the nose. Blueberries, huckleberries and lingonberries on the palate, with smooth tannins and autumn spices following the bright entrance. The finish lingers, revealing layers of seasonal delights without losing the berries, the berries, the berries. Absolutely lovely.
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9/4/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 93 Points
Previous Notes Apply ---- Just a delicous bottle of syrah. 93
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8/6/2012 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
This beat out an 03 longshadows sequel by Duvall tonight. This bottle was all about warm blueberry cobbler, blueberry compote, and entenmann's berry breakfast cake your grand mother seved when you were a kid. no significant savory notes or flavors evident tonight. There was alcohol present in the nose, palate, and finish which was almost completely balanced by the massive fruit.
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7/10/2012 - patwjr wrote: 93 Points
Popped n poured. Big syrah, great ripe fruit but not overdone. Drink with a long decant or hold a few years. Last bottle; too bad. Great value.
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7/9/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 93 Points
Had side by side with an 05 Montes Folly, and this one was superior. Enveloping, Powerful, Graceful. Super Syrah. Highly recommended. 93
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7/2/2012 - patwjr wrote: 93 Points
Drank 1/2 the bottle over 2+ hours - delicious, big yet smooth fruit that only got better with time. 2nd half drank really well the 2nd night. Great now with a long decant or has enough stuff to hold too.
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6/4/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 93 Points
2 hours in the decanter and this baby was singing. Big and ripe nose of kirsch, carmelized cherries, rasberries. Great mouthfeel and a beautiful finish. Getting better and better. I think this will easily go for 5+ more years. Well done Joey. 93
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5/15/2012 - arthrovine wrote: 93 Points
A little heat on the nose out of the gate, the aromas were dark blue/black fruit and spicebox. Decanted 2 hours which softened the heat. The palate showed moderate tannin and a minty menthol finish that surprises with latent fruit on the back end. Smooth but firm wine. No round edges. Great wine that, while fruit forward in itself, was not as complex nor forward as the 06 Efeste Jolie Bouche we drank tonight. 92-93pts
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5/7/2012 - dhammer53 wrote: 93 Points
I've been sitting on this wine for 4+ years. Been anxious to taste it after visiting the Tensley tasting room in Los Olivos. A really dark color. There was no nose on opening, but a few minutes later I was able to smell fruit. This is a full, rich, chewy wine. I did taste some chocolate and tobacco, along with fruit. I'll drink my other bottle in 3 years. No rush. It was fun seeing my daughter swirling the wine in the glass. At around $35, this was one heck of a QPR.
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5/2/2012 - corkscrews wrote: 91 Points
A nose of dark fruits and spice, dark purple in color. A full bodied single vineyard Syrah, with blackberry, cassis, black currants and earthy spice. Was very good just expected more with the ratings hype.
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4/21/2012 - Baggio wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful, intense, quintessential Central Coast syrah. Monolithic, but still multi-dimensional in its way.
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3/12/2012 - DPMc wrote: 95 Points
For me, Tensley's best Colson Canyon. Big and rich, but well balanced. Amazing velvety texture. Throwing lots of sediment.
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3/3/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 92 Points
Oh hells ya. Big and thick, velvety smooth. A big bowl of blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream out in a field of wild flowers --- thats what this smelled like. As the wine rolled around in my mouth it caressed every little pocket. I love this syrah. 4 more to go. Yay...
92++
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2/25/2012 - prism wrote: 93 Points
Vinturied and decanted for two hours. Very deep purple-black in the glass. Fragrant nose of blackberries and violets with a hint of vanilla. Smooth to the taste, well-integrated tannins, wonderfully balanced. The WOTN for all six of us against another Cali Syrah, two Aussie Shirazes, and two Northern Rhones: a Hermitage and a Vin de Pays.
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2/25/2012 - Skip4wine wrote: 90 Points
Almost black in the glass. Deep blackberry flavors and nice acidity. Not as complex as the best Syrah but losing the jaminess of its youth. Can drink now but will just get better.
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12/25/2011 - JOsgood wrote: 85 Points
Decanted for 60 minutes. This didn't have anything good going on. One dimensional syrupy olive juice. A wall of fruit and a flat mid palate. Tasted this young and it was a lot better. I usually like Joey's wines, very disappointed in how this bottle turned out.
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12/23/2011 - fbuc23 wrote: 87 Points
Was pumped to open this. Decanted and sat for 1 hour. Might have needed more time but it just wasn't doing it for me. I LOVED it at the tasting room. Not sure if it was an off bottle or what.
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11/30/2011 - HOS Likes this wine: 95 Points
Popped, poured and drank over two nights. Just kept getting better. Night one, plum, spice, vanilla. Night two, fruit muted somewhat allowing a better balance with the spice, leather, pepper, smoke. Full bodied, smoooooooth, long finish. I was amazed at how it held up on night two. This is a long lived wine which is still young.
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10/6/2011 - ctjared wrote:
pop and pour - beautiful nose of black fruit, spice and pepper. needs some time to open up though.
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9/13/2011 - Kdog wrote:
Going to be very nice. Still young and powerful, putting away my others for 1-2 years. 1-2 hour decant if your going to enjoy now.
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9/2/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 94 Points
An absolutely gorgeous wine, probably one of my favorite California Syrahs. Plenty of dark blackberry and blueberry fruit with notes of spice, vanilla, and smoke. Opaque, deep purple with a full bodied texture. This wine will blow you away: complex, elegant, and very approachable. This is the fifth of six bottles that I purchased in 2009, I only wish I had bought a case! I usually decant for 30 mins to an hour, and it opens very quickly. Provides a nice balanced finish; refined tannins.
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8/20/2011 - VashonWine wrote: 92 Points
big fruity characteristic of syrah, but refined and elegant. still drinking a little young. deep ruby/purply color. Nice finish, though not particularly long.
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7/29/2011 - rsbeck wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with previous notes.
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7/25/2011 - PSUSteve wrote: 90 Points
Slow ox for 7+ hours and then decanted for 3+ hours (more than planned). Deep, deep, dark wine. A little late in the night for formal notes but a nice wine.
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7/17/2011 - phillyboyP wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours. Gorgeous dark shimmering color. Fabulous nose of stewed blue fruits and caramelized cherries. Great length and flavor, with tons of fruit. HUGE wine. A monster. One to share, as I was exhausted by the 3rd glass. For the $32 I paid, insane QPR. Glad I have 5 more. 93
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6/20/2011 - Winebof wrote: 82 Points
could be better described as syrup than wine. by pure taste an 82. on the value spectrum it's a 50.
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5/31/2011 - rsbeck wrote: 91 Points
Popped, breathed in bottle 24 hours. Well concentrated dark fruit, rich, round. Interest seems to be generated by some deftly woven toasty oak notes. A solid citizen, easy to drink, but wish it had a little more personality. No problem with heat to my heat sensitive palate. Should be a crowd pleaser.
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5/29/2011 - CdP in NYC wrote: 94 Points
Had this about two years ago and was relatively unimpressed (with respect to the high praise). This bottle is a completely different beast. Massive but extremely well balanced. Smoked meat, sulfur, and zounds of raspberry, cranberry, bing cherry, and newly cut oak. This is still so young and fresh but more obviously beautiful. Clean, pure, and precise on the palate, delivering the promise of the nose and lasting over a minute. This is stellar; it's no wonder this is trading at double it's original offering price. Drink now and over the next ten years. 94
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5/16/2011 - DPMc wrote: 94 Points
Pure rich dark fruit. Drinking at peak now with no hard edges. Enough acid/tannins to ward off any flabbiness.
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4/27/2011 - GlenviewGSW wrote: 94 Points
This is a fabulous syrah. Rich, powerful yet refined enough tannins that allow the wine to go well with food. Love the chocolate and grilled meat overtones. Wish I bought more
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3/25/2011 - EvanJB wrote: 93 Points
This is really solid again. Guys ski trip, universally enjoyed, great bold fruit, nice long finish
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3/18/2011 - tooch wrote: 88 Points
New World Wines - Blind (Jace's House - Bethesda, MD): Tightly packed nose of blackberries, blueberries, toast and meat drippings. Palate was silky smooth with blueberry compote, peppered blackberries, wood smoke, herbs, and meat. The heat spiked a bit on the finish throwing off the balance, but like a couple other of the syrahs this night, aging them will probably solve this issue of mine.
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3/1/2011 - coreywb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Gorgeous color. Terrific nose with berries and spice evident. My second bottle of this and well worth the wait. Outstanding Syrah. Elegant example. Aging has only helped. I will wait for last bottle at least one more year. A personal favorite!
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2/13/2011 - sbfireman wrote: 95 Points
Timeless and classic. A great benchmark for syrah - fruit and finish and all in between. Pop and pour and even when chilled from the wine storage - killer juice.
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1/29/2011 - Briangray77 wrote: 95 Points
beautiful dark purple color. on the nose i get black cherries and black berries and a interesting elephant poop, like from the zoo, scent with a hint of vanilla and some spice. on the palate there is tons of gorgeous fruit. lots of grapey grape and cherry and plum, vanilla and spice and everything nice! on the finish there is great acidity with some oakiness to balance the fruit and firm tannins that all come together to make one hell of a wine!!! WELL DONE!!!!!
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12/31/2010 - hanasowner wrote: 94 Points
This is my third bottle. First one a couple years ago was pretty good and then one early last year was closed. I think this has opened up again and is in a good spot. Hard to beat the QPR of Tensley wines.
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12/18/2010 - bundydavis wrote: 94 Points
Another 3 hour decant. This wine is just big and fruity, but not over the top. Best bang for the buck around.
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11/5/2010 - David3Cr wrote: 94 Points
Dark color; tasted dark fruit and chocolate.
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11/3/2010 - JavaMonkey wrote: 90 Points
Tasted blind. I guessed that this was a southern Rhone Syrah. Similar to the previous bottle, but it seems to have picked up some extra depth. Dark purple red. Very nice Plum, blackberry, toast, and pepper on the nose. The palate is medium-full. The fruit is very clean and defined. Masculine and a little burly, but with very good balance with acidity and tannins. Long, enjoyable finish. Really excellent.
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10/17/2010 - greekwineaux wrote: 94 Points
Took this with brother Jim to tailgaiting party on the campus of USC, prior to their dominant performance against Cal. This is a fantastic syrah that has never failed to impress me over the last two years, with an abundance of black and blue fruit, and just enough acidic backbone to keep the fruit in check. Good length on the finish, leaving you wanting for more. Still have a few left, and I hope to keep at least one for a vertical tasting, along with the 2008 and recently delivered 2009 when they are ready to go.
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8/29/2010 - Winebof wrote: 80 Points
I hate to fault it for being different, but this is very much a 1-note wine. Dark (basically black) and brooding, but essentially zero complexity (zero acidity). This would be a good cocktail hour wine, definitely not for the dinner table.
The "like a laser beam of purple fruit" comment is dead-on.
Hold last one until at least 2015 to see if any acidity is hiding underneath.
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8/2/2010 - HOS wrote: 94 Points
Brought to friends for the weekend. First bottle of the night. Decanted and began drinking. Developed over the hour it took to finish. Consistent with earlier notes. Wonderful wine.
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7/21/2010 - EvanJB wrote: 93 Points
I still think this one's great. The guys love it, but the women are mixed. I'd love to see how it ages, but it's so good, we're running low. Bold fruit, a bit hot initially, gets smooth after aerator and decanter 1 hr. I think this is way better than the 08.
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7/14/2010 - novicedave wrote: 93 Points
Great syrah....let breathe a couple of hours....a little more alcohol than I typically like, but integrates pretty well. Should be outstanding in another year or two.
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7/13/2010 - StainedGlass wrote: 92 Points
Inky dark purple, this is a rich, full-fruit forward but well-intergrated California syrah. Deep blueberry and blackberry flavors, but thankfully not too sweet and not as hot as the 15% alcohol might suggest. Smooth tannins despite its youth, but overall not complex enough to push this into the rareified 95+ territpory. Nevertheless, a very well-made wine that should be even better in 2 years or more.
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7/10/2010 - 2Travel wrote: 93 Points
The last bottle they had at the Matchbox in Eastern Market. Very nice. The flavor profile for this wine is remarkably consistent between the '07 and '08 - both with a wall of berries on both the nose and pallet. Great concentration for the price.
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7/3/2010 - clovercap wrote: 94 Points
Decanted at restaurant. Another incredible bottle. Dark ink look in the glass. Very fruit forward early on that balanced out after an hour or so. Each sip better than the last. Notes of chocolate, blackberry, but good acidity to balance the sweetness. A bit of heat at first but blew off quickly. A bit of pepper spice shows up at the finish which lasted for a minute or more. Another wow from Joey Tensley from us.
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6/19/2010 - Central Coast Wino wrote: 92 Points
What a great wine! This wine is excellent at its young age. I detected bacon on the nose, along with all the other fruit. This wine is great for sipping or pairing with a steak. I can see why Joey sold out of this so quickly.
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5/28/2010 - Pointchaser wrote: 95 Points
Delicious. Like a laser beam of purple fruit. Rich and gorgeous.
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5/13/2010 - Wicker Parker wrote:
Big, yes; rich, yes; intensely black, yes; but it's neither heavy nor syrupy nor jammy, wears its 15% alcohol well with only a trace of heat, and shows quite a bit of character even at this young age. Most impressively, it shows good acidity, a dash of black pepper, and plenty of licorice-streaked minerality amid all that dense, primary, blackberry fruit. That 80% of the barrels used to age this wine were neutral surely helped. It's a bit absurd to be drinking this now — I'd check back in perhaps 3 years from now — but even now it's clearly a reference point for new world syrah.
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5/4/2010 - arthrovine wrote: 92 Points
Needs a lot of time in the decanter. Is really very very good the next day. Its a little tight, tough, and hot out of the gate, though. Next time, I'm decanting at least 6 hours. Noticing some variation in bottles I've tasted as well.
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4/29/2010 - coreywb Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wonderful! Beautiful fruit, some spice and a long smooth finish that you wish would last even longer. Tasted against 2008 which is hotter and needs way more time. Though 2008 should be very good, 2007 is outstanding.
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3/9/2010 - sbfireman wrote: 96 Points
I just love this wine. Exceptionally smooth. All around class in a bottle.
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3/4/2010 - hammie1234 wrote: 93 Points
Big, sweet, and syrupy sweet right out of the bottle. An hour later it really started to integrate well and was firing on all cylinders. Just a gorgeous evolution to watch over the night.
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2/25/2010 - Rob Hansult Likes this wine: 92 Points
P&P; tasted over 5 hours.
Very deep magenta ruby color.
Nose > Huge, aromatic, flowery, huckleberry, sweet black cherry liqueur, black plum, smoky-creamy oak perfume, leather, mulberry, grainy blue, black & purple fruit with creosote, raw lean beef & pepper.
Palate > Rich/sweet luscious smoky huckleberry, bitter chocolate, cassis & black cherry palate. Fruity, spicy & rich. Fairly long flavor & finish. Medium concentration.
Big wine (15% ABV on label), but no heat showing through on nose or palate.
A Very nice wine; better on the nose than on the palate.
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2/14/2010 - PSUSteve wrote: 91 Points
decanted 2 1/2 hours
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1/31/2010 - JavaMonkey wrote: 88 Points
Dark purple red. Very nice Plum, blackberry, toast, and pepper on the nose. The palate is medium-full. The fruit is very clean and defined. Very good balance with acidity and tannins. Long, enjoyable finish. Really a very nice wine, but for me, doesn't have the extra character to push it into "outstanding" territory.
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1/30/2010 - rralls wrote: 93 Points
Outstanding wine and value
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1/30/2010 - sterin wrote: 95 Points
Wow, what a bottle. After a 3.5 hour decant this wine was showing really well. Tons of cigar/tobacco on the nose with licorice and meaty notes on the palate. This wine is extremely well balanced and has a long finish. I have one more bottle and will definitely buy a few more.
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1/29/2010 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Filling in w/the Friday Brown Bag Group (Rich & Dana's): Inky purple color - how did this get into the first flight? Notes of mint, dark fruit, and boysenberry with meaty overtones. Tannins are sweet, with falvors of dark fruit, spice, blueberries and caramel. Well-balanced. Easy to pick out as Cali syrah, but not sure of the appellation.
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1/26/2010 - SMG wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour. After being open for 2 hours this has improved although the bouquet was great from the moment it was opened. Plum, blueberry, blackberry, earthy, floral and smoke. This is rich but not heavy. Elegant and balanced yet complex. My first Tensley and this is very well made.
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1/24/2010 - Arch57 wrote: 93 Points
Jan 2010 Connecticut Wine Tasting (Henry's House - Fairfield CT): Wine "F" - This bottle was the last one of a blind tasting and by that time we were all having a good time that the formal notes were left blank. I had to check with the host to confirm the actual wine and vintage. But the few brain cells left recall this was another really good wine, with inky purple color and a lot of ripe fruit but not jammy or overwhelming. This bottle fit right in with other costing 3-5 times as much. Overall a great tasting line up with every wine prompting a lot of good conversation about their merits.
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1/24/2010 - HOS wrote: 94 Points
One of the last bottles open at a tasting event at my house. Decanted 3 hours before. Consistent with earlier notes. Just a great wine. Too bad it was at the end of the night.
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1/22/2010 - jschmeling wrote: 95 Points
Dark purple red Syrah, and the color is emphasized in the dark, inky nose. Great black fruit, very fruit forward, but also some other complex notes, lead, earth. It’s a big, spicy, alcoholic wine with lots of tannins, thick, unctuous, and mouthwatering. With all that it's amazingly balanced, and drinkable now. I imagine it will age well, and I've had it decanted for a few hours, and opened for just a few minutes, great either way. Went well with salami, olives, and some hard cheeses. About $40, it’s a steal, but not widely available (read, sold out everywhere!).
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1/6/2010 - sbfireman wrote: 95 Points
So fine - elegant fruit that shines on.
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12/19/2009 - rockguit wrote: 97 Points
Spectacular wine that easily drinks 2-3x above its price point. Definitely new world (and not shy of showing its fruit), but the fruit is so elegant and seamlessly integrated with just the right amount of earth and pepper, that it creates a complexity that is both intriguing and accessible. We served it to wine drinkers and non-wine drinkers, and old and new world aficionados alike, and I have never seem such universal praise for a bottle of wine--people were fighting for the last drops! At $40, the most amazing QPR I've had so far.
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12/6/2009 - Gravity wrote: 91 Points
Drinking well now but could use some (a lot) more time in the bottle.
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12/5/2009 - jack21 wrote: 96 Points
Wow. What a great Syrah. You cannot do any better at this price point.
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11/29/2009 - HOS wrote: 94 Points
After traveling in Texas for a week, took this bottle to the restaurant for dinner with D on the first night back. Wanted something special and this delivered. I opened the bottle about 2 hours prior to drinking and it was ready to go when we poured. Great nose of plum, blackberry with earth notes. Amazing palate of pure fruit with a perfect structure. A wonderful finish. Full bodied with silky tannins.
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10/18/2009 - brl75 wrote: 97 Points
Simply incredible.
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10/18/2009 - elbosco wrote: 93 Points
Superb from the get go. Big, meaty and complex. Leather, blackberry, spice and roasted pumpkin seeds. Satisfying grip and incredible finish. An outstanding California syrah in all respects.
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9/22/2009 - Giggs wrote: 94 Points
A beautiful Syrah. Dark purple and opaque. Nose has blueberry, orange blossom, black pepper, charcoal, graphite, and oak hiding in the background. After a few hours of decanting, some beef jerky character becomes apparent. Silky, pure, and balanced with purple fruit and meatiness. Sour plum and spicy oak on the back end. Has good weight; rich while not heavy.
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9/7/2009 - EvanJB wrote: 92 Points
Better after an hour of opening up. Great bottle.
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9/4/2009 - DSchnider wrote: 93 Points
Terrific Central Coast Rhone style Syrah. Good mix of monir spice and fruit
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7/1/2009 - clovercap wrote: 94 Points
Decanted for 1 hour prior to dinner. Fragrant nose of berry fruit and some smoke. Tannins present in background but fruit is amazing. Black cherry,smoke, some earthy tones. Very smooth on palate and lovely lingering, long finish that makes it seem as if this is 5 years old. Great now, but will be better with some age. Hope I can resist opening the rest over a couple of years. This is a truly wonderful syrah.
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5/18/2009 - HOS wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1/2 hour. The tannins were overpowering in the first glass but smoothed out after another 1/2 hour of air time. Plum, berry nose. Intense fruit on the palate with peppery, earth notes in a full bodied wine. The overwhelming sensation is the purity of the fruit coming through in a good way, not jammy or overly sweet. Medium length finish. This should continue to develop for a number of years and is definitly a winner at Tensley's wine club pricing. I also got the 10th anniversary version of this and I assume it will need more bottle time based on this bottle. Probably try one of those in a year. 9/2009 update. Parker just rated the 10th Anniversary edition a 98 with only 2 barrels produced. Feels nice to be ahead of the curve for once.
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5/3/2009 - nopat wrote: 93 Points
Fantastic wine. Not much to say, except overwhelmed by how good this was. Great balance, incredibly smooth, good mouthfeel, nice finish. Pepper and game, hints of secondary components that make me believe this will age nicely, raspberry and blackberry dominated. Unmistakably Rhone. Wish I had more.
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4/10/2009 - Surfdoc wrote: 89 Points
Dark purple. Very fruit forward, slightly sweet plum and blackberry flavor. Medium finish with hint of leather.
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3/22/2009 - mgl wrote: 93 Points
So smooth, so good, wish I had a lot more instead of just one more.
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1/29/2009 - bundydavis wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Great wine. Wow! Lots of fruit. Was hot at the start and mellowed out a bit later on. Glad I have two more.
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