2020 Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Syrah Tensley Estate is also outstanding. Ripe red and black fruits, ground pepper, loamy earth, and iron nuances all flow to a medium to full-bodied, pure, elegant Syrah with fine tannins and a great finish. As with the other Syrahs here, it saw a small amount of whole clusters and was aged in one-third new French oak. This was another brilliant lineup of wines from Joey Tensley. Looking at the 2020s reviewed here, these share plenty of similarities with his 2018s, and maybe the 2019s, and are rich, powerful wines that show the warmer style of the vintage. The 2021s on the other hand, clearly come from a cooler year and show more medium-bodied, fresher styles. Nevertheless, these are still classic Tensley wines that bring plenty of texture and opulence. In addition, Tensley has launched a new P2KV lineup of wines with a focus on old, pre-2000 vines in Santa Barbara County.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Syrah Tensley Vineyard is heady and bombastic right out of the gate. A rush of inky dark fruit, bittersweet chocolate, leather, menthol and gravel are all turned up. Tiny yields in the field results in a dark, massively tannic, somber Syrah. The 2020 is definitely not shy.
Deep ruby-purple, the 2020 Syrah Tensley Vineyard has slowly emerging aromas of blackcurrants, iron, aniseed and turned earth with top notes of dried orange peel. The medium-bodied palate is bright and spicy, and it finishes long and ethereal.
The 2020 Syrah Tensley Vineyard is an exotic full-throttle wine. The tannins here can be a bit imposing, but the 2020 has an extra kick of fruit that helps balance things out. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, spice and menthol saturate the palate. Dense and explosive, the Tensley is shaping up to be a jewel of wine.