Tensley Fundamental Central Coast 2016 | Loaded with Personality
Tensley Fundamental Central Coast 2016 displays deep, inky purple color with stained tears. Loaded with crushed blackberry and black cherry fruits, along with fresh black pepper spice and dried floral notes. While full of crunchy fruit on the palate, with fine tannins and meaty finish. Drink now-2022. Another gem from star winemaker Joey Tensley.
Combining Syrah with a rich dollop of Petite Sirah, vibrant Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Viognier, Tensely delivered up another fabulously hedonistic Rhône lookalike that will drink beautifully on arrival. Tensley Fundamental Central Coast 2016 is a lip-smacking under-$20 stunner from one of the Central Coast’s top talents.
Côtes-du-Rhone lookalike | Pair with a Gourmet Burger
No, we didn’t get our math wrong: that’s a flat $17 bucks for a gorgeously ripe Côtes-du-Rhone lookalike from Joey Tensley, one of the top five producers of Rhône-style reds in the country!
Robert Parker’s longtime Rhône expert Jeb Dunnuck lavishes praise on Tensley year after year. While declaring that a number of his 2016 releases are contenders for wine of the vintage. This Tensley Fundamental Central Coast 2016 red blend is “loaded with personality. Most of all offering zesty blackberry, orange peel, espresso and smoked sage flavors.
Accolades for Joey Tensley
For members who have been collecting Tensley reds over the last nine vintages, you’re well-acquainted with the astounding concentration and high-toned vibrancy of these absolutely hedonistic reds. But you also know that Tensley — as much as any winemaker on the coast — crafts wines that speak to the nuances of each growing season.
We loved his 2010s for their classical structure, showing more like Saint-Joseph than Santa Barbara. While the 2011s are keepers and more restrained. The 2012s were dark, juicy, and round. The 2013s, like ‘12, were dark, juicy, yet delineated and well structured. As a result, Joey called his 2014s among “the brawniest reds” he’s made. And the 2016s? Think voluptuous body, incredible freshness, and immediate accessibility. While making this “Fundamental” blend the perfect go-to bottle any weeknight.
About the lush and intense 2016 Vintage
Tensely and his vineyard team played the 2016 vintage perfectly. Yet, any California winemaker will tell you that the defining event of the vintage was a severe heat spike in late September. While those who harvested after had to contend with accumulated sugars and lower acids. Hence, those who picked before were treated to BB-sized berries of exquisite brightness. And a suave density guaranteeing excellent cellaring potential.