Background [Skimmable part]
For over a decade, Tensley has delivered the best Rhone-styled wines in America. We can't comprehend how they can offer Cult-caliber quality that's priced "cheaply" -- but lets just appreciate and not question it!
In 1998, Joey Tensley became the assistant winemaker at Beckmen Vineyards. There, he was offered space to launch his own label to produce only vineyard-designated Syrahs from Santa Barbara. He decided that all his wines would be priced the same, and made in the same fashion.
By 2001 Tensley Wines' original 100 cases had grown to 750 cases, and Joey had moved into his own winery in Buellton, California. Tensley appeared on prestigious wine lists from coast to coast including Manhattan's Gotham Bar and Grill, Chicago's Bin 36, and Picasso in Las Vegas.
The wine press also began taking note of Tensley. Matt Kramer of The Wine Spectator named two of Tensley's 2001 Syrahs to his list of Top Ten Wines in the World and Robert Parker scored all the 01's in the high 90's, calling them "...serious, hand-crafted efforts." In 2008 Food and Wine magazine named the 2006 Colson Canyon Syrah "Top Syrah in America Over $20." In 2010 Robert Parker gave the 2008 Anniversary Series Colson Canyon Syrah 99 points, and the Wine Spectator ranked the 2008 Colson Canyon Syrah Number 17 on its list of the Top 100 wines in the world. (The 2007 Colson Canyon Syrah was named number 22 in 2009.)
Wine Enthusiast on Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah from "It’s Finally Time for Ageworthy American Syrah". (CLICK HERE for the full article):
"Back down at the winery, Tensley poured tastes of each bottling from 2000 to 2015. Varying from leathery to very fresh, some vintages were more powerful, some more tightly wound, and not in the order you’d expect—the 2001, for instance, tasted younger than the 2003, and the 2007 much more zippy than the brooding 2013. But they were all full of black pepper, tar and rich blackberry flavors, classic Syrah elements.
“What I like is that they all have the same flavor profile,” says Tensley, who explained that the 2007 was his “go-to” wine. “They all came from the same place.” And none were even close to being over the hill."
While Tensley and its reputation continue to grow, Joey remains true to his original philosophy. Simply put, "Get out of the way and let the vineyard speak for itself."
