Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard 2016 | ‘A killer wine!’

Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard 2016 is dark ruby in color. Offering terrific aromas of blackberries, Madagascar vanilla bean, and black plum skins. While bold, explosive and rich with a tapestry of black fruit.  Also, mingling with black peppercorns, dried violets, cured meat and an olive tapenade note on the finish. Hence, beautifully in balance and driven by power and energy. Enjoy this now and for the next decade. Another gem from Winemakers Joey and Jennifer Tensley.

More Sensational Cellar Selections

96 points Jeb Dunnuck | The Tensley Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard 2016 comes from a remote site high up in the mountains, north of Los Olivos. Delivering terrific notes of sagebrush, sweet plums, blackberry jam, tobacco leaf, and pepper. Like the Tensely Vineyard release, it’s one of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup,  Yet it’s decidedly more perfumed, lifted and sweetly fruited.  As a result, delivering sensational purity and a killer wine.

Colson Canyon Vineyard | Santa Ynez Mountains

It was love at first sight for Winemaker Joey Tensley when he originally spied the rugged Colson Canyon Vineyard back in 1997.  In addition, perched high up at an elevation of 1,400 feet.  While the combination of warm days and cool nights produce dense, fruit-forward wines with opulent jamminess.

Colson Canyon Vineyard, high up in the Santa Ynez Mountains north of Los Olivos, has been providing exceptional Syrah to Joey Tensley since 2000. This fruit has helped Tensley become the most honored Syrah maestro on the coast.   Notably, one vintage flirting with Robert Parker perfection at 99 points.

Sensational Purity | 2016 all came together

But in 2016 it all came together. Two years prior, he bought the site, and the 2016 vintages have his handprints on the grapes for the first time, from bud-break to harvest. The result produced Winemakers Joey and Jennifer Tensley most unctuous, decadent Santa Barbara Syrah yet.

Explore today’s finds at Wine Access

So Robert Parker’s longtime Rhone expert, Jeb Dunnuck gushed over its “sensational purity. While concluding it is “a killer wine,” deserving of 94-96 points. Hence, at $39.99 per bottle, it is one of the best-priced 94-point American Syrahs on the market.

Winemakers Joey and Jennifer Tensley

Joey and his talented winemaker wife Jennifer Tensley cobbled their resources together and launched a label that has upended the wine world.   In 1998 Joey Tensley launched Tensley Wines with one hundred cases and one single goal.  To start a well-priced, Syrah-driven brand that let the unique vineyards of Santa Barbara County speak for themselves.