2018 Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Syrah Sta. Rita Hills comes from a mix of the Turner and Zotovich vineyards and saw 25% stems and the normal 10% neutral oak. It has a big, blue fruit-driven core as well as lots of violets, peppery herbs, and hints of bloody meat and salty minerality. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it's another rocking wine that just about blows up the QPR scale. The 2018s from Tensley are some of the finest wines he’s made. They have the classic, opulent style he’s known for paired with more freshness, purity, and acidity. His wines age beautifully, but my money is on his 2018s evolving even longer. The 2019s are close in style, yet have even fresher, more elegant profiles. These wines will put on weight over the course of their élevage, and this is certainly another brilliant vintage. If you take prices into account, dollar for dollar, these are some of the greatest wines out there.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Black cherry, lavender, spice, menthol, licorice and graphite all run through the 2018 Syrah Tensley Vineyard. Dark, powerful and savory, the Tensely Vineyard has so much going on. I would give the muscular tannins a few years to soften. I remember when Joey Tensley planted this vineyard on his home ranch in Los Olivos. It's hard to believe ten years have passed since then!
From a younger site located around Tensley’s house, the 2018 Syrah Tensley Vineyard saw the standard mostly destemming and aging all in neutral oak. It sports a deep purple color to go with a sexy, voluptuously styled Syrah that has lots of blue and black fruits, hints of gamy meat and bacon, plenty of pepper, medium to full body, and ripe, polished tannins.
The 2018 Syrah (Santa Barbara County) is shaping up to be fabulous. I am not sure I have ever tasted a Tensley Syrah with this much energy and focus. Lavender, mint and spice meld into a core of blue/purplish fruit. Medium in body, nuanced and vibrant, the 2018 has so much to offer. I can't wait to taste it from bottle. The 2018 has all the makings of a real overachiever.