Tensley – Syrah – 2023
Colson Canyon Vineyard – Santa Barbara County – USA 🇺🇸
Overview
100% Syrah from the high-elevation Colson Canyon Vineyard, a benchmark site that consistently delivers powerful yet balanced fruit. This vintage shows tension between ripeness, structure, and freshness.
Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, cracked pepper, violet, licorice, and a subtle smoky undertone. Dark, spicy, and focused.
Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with sleek acidity and fine, integrated tannins. Concentrated but not heavy, with a long, peppery finish that lingers.
Food Pairings
Grilled lamb, beef skewers, duck confit, pepper-crusted steak, or roasted mushrooms.
Verdict
A balanced, expressive Syrah with depth, spice, and length – a great example of why Santa Barbara continues to challenge the top Rhône-style regions.
Did You Know?
Colson Canyon sits at nearly 1,500 ft elevation, producing small berries with thick skins, a key reason these Syrahs show intense color, aromatics, and age-worthy structure. — 6 months ago
Ricky mora — 8 months ago
Dark purple/black color. Aromas of cooked black fruit, violets and Asian spices. Blackberry compote, huckleberry, blueberry jam and black plum fruit flavors along with notes of chocolate, black licorice, basil, tobacco, coffee and vanilla. Hint of saline on the long and drawn out finish. High, but not obvious, alcohol (16%). Velvety texture and tannin structure. Plush, bold and powerful. Thanks for sharing, James W. — a year ago
I remember tasting this wine around 20 years ago & I remember exactly what it tasted like. One of the best wines from Napa for the 98 vintage. Rice a Roni should give David Ramey the Jericho Canyon fruit back to make Cabernet. These Rudd & the Ramey Jerichos are top notch. I just read Pepsi now owns Rice a Roni. — 5 years ago
Yummy! (Lufta gärna!)
Edit: till o med godare dagen efter. #caves — 5 months ago
A home run at the price. — 6 months ago
Great pleasant wine. — a year ago
Light garnet color. Very interesting nose and palate of red fruits, rose petals, dried herbs, black tea, bergamot and sweet baking spices. Hint of eucalyptus on the long, complex and earthy finish. Smooth tannins. Lively, bright and very well balanced. Nice concentration for a light bodied wine. Excellent! — 2 years ago
I wish I still had some of these 01 Jerichos. This wine tastes like Mouton Rothschild in a great year. One of the best 01 Cabs. I want to try this wine now to see how it’s holding up and how it’s developed. This was when I noticed the alcohol levels getting higher on Cabs but no hotness or alcohol flavors here. This has it all. the layers of complexity, the creme de cassis, lead pencil and perfectly ripened dark fruit. Very well balanced and fun to drink. — 5 years ago


Seemed a bit tainted — 9 months ago
Elegant type of ZF. Balanced. Green & Red Vineyards wine 22 @, 250626 — a year ago
Jason Keefer
Great blend with literally the kitchen sink of varietals (10!). Haven’t had their more pricy cuvées but if this is any indication, they knock it out of the park! Side note, gorgeous tasting room. @Ryan Colthorp came visit for a wine trip! — 5 months ago