2023 Santa Barbara Syrah
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Tasting notes
From vines around Tensley's house in Los Olivos and fermented with 30% whole clusters before aging 10 months in neutral French oak, the 2023 Syrah Tensley Vineyard has a ruby/purple hue and red, blue, and black fruits, liquid violets, pepper, and gamey nuances on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, pure, and seamless on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins, remarkable purity, and a great finish, it's actually one of the standouts in the lineup in 2023 and is a brilliant Syrah that will keep for 15 years if well stored. Drink 2025-2040. Joey Tensley started Tensley Wines in 1998 and has built it into one of the key Syrah producers in Santa Barbara County. Based in Los Olivos, he works with a mix of estate fruit and top vineyards including Colson Canyon, Thompson, Turner, Nolan, and Purisima Mountain. The range today spans varietal Syrahs from these sites, the flagship OGT and BMT cuvées (bottled only in magnum), the Syrah Noir, as well as red blends and small amounts of white wine such as Clairette Blanche. Winemaking is straightforward, with native fermentations, varying amounts of whole cluster, and mostly neutral oak aging. Tensley has always been remarkably consistent, but the 2023s might be the finest vintage I’ve tasted from him across the board.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Syrah Santa Barbara County will be gorgeous, offering bright black and blue fruits as well as some peppery, violets, and exotic floral nuances. It's beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, has ripe tannins, and a great finish.
The 2023 Syrah Tensley Vineyard is super-promising. It offers all the natural concentration that is typical of this site, but with tons of energy and delineation that provide lift and drive. This is terrific.
The 2023 Syrah Tensley Vineyard is a potent, layered wine that conveys gravitas with a real Northern Rhône bent. Blue and purple fruit saturate the palate with concentration, propelled by tantalizing acidity. Peppery, gamey accents weave through the fruit with ease. There's such impressive drive and depth to behold here.