Freddy R. Troya

9.2

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. — 11 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

This was drinking beautifully showing rich red & black fruits, earth, cedar, leather, spice & tobacco — 24 days ago

Matt Schwartz

9.0

Dried red fruits, baking spices, cedar, Price Albert tobacco, coco nibs, stewed tomato and leather. Maintains good acidity with softened tannins. A bit past its prime but still drinking well.

Perfect wine for watching the Las Vegas Grand Prix! — a month ago

Raul Puga

9.4

Very smooth good fruit with notes of pepper. Really enjoyed it — a month ago

Tom Garland

9.3

2 hour decant. A marvelous medium garnet color (decent fine sediment). On the nose: dark berries, cassis, forest floor, sandalwood, pencil shavings, chocolate, and cigar box. Taste: layered, balanced, still young wine with dark cherry/plum, cedar, dark chocolate, charcoal, and a lingering tobacco/leather finish. YUM! No hurry, a long distance Las Cases. — 13 days ago

with Brenda

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for my #FridayCabernetfix.

Purple in color with a purplish rim.

Fresh fruits on the nose with cedar, licorice and chocolates notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, light oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, light vegetables, tobacco, light earth, herbs and black pepper.

Long finish with round tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Pauillac. Elegant, fruit forward and rich.

Wine Spectator 96 points. Wine Advocate 94 points.

Still young, and a tad subdued at the moment, but with good structure and nice complexity. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 to 15 years.

Already showing a great mouthfeel, nicely balanced and good by itself or with food.

A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot. Aged in (75% new) French Oak barrels.

A great sipping wine that will also pair nicely with a big piece of steak.

13.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$90. — 14 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.2

Black fruits, cedar, earth, leather, graphite & tobacco — 5 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Youthful, structured with mostly black fruits, cassis, sweet spice, graphite, cedar, leather & tobacco — 13 days ago

Louis Martin

9.5

Measured aroma, silky smooth texture, blackberry and cedar notes, grew more complex as the night wore on, probably still on the young side but still a special treat to have with a short rib and polenta dish. — 8 days ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Dark peppery fruit. Lush with black cherry. Good balance. Delicious — 2 months ago

with Peter, Gregg and 1 other