Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Syrah Tensley Vineyard comes from a site recently planted just outside of the town of Los Olivos. It’s an inky purple colored Syrah that has tons of blackberry, smoked plum, olives and charred meat aromas and flavors. It’s another full-bodied, rich and concentrated red from this estate that has good acidity, ample underlying structure and a great finish. This cuvee reminded me of a Cornas when I tasted it from barrel, and I stand by that comparison today. Give bottles a decant if drinking anytime soon, and enjoy bottles through 2027.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Coming from a newly planted site located around the estate, the 2015 Syrah Tensley Vineyard is reminiscent of a top flight Cornas with its meaty, savory, crushed rock and smoked dark fruit aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured and with fine tannin, it shows the potential from this young vineyard.
Range: 92-94 -
Wine Spectator
Deeply structured and playing mostly bass notes, this Syrah offers dark berry and crushed rock aromas and plump but dense blueberry, herbes de Provence and licorice flavors. Drink now through 2028. 170 cases made.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.