Jeremiah Diaz

9.3

Clear, deep ruby in color. On the nose, it's clean with pronounced primary and secondary aromas of cassis, blackberries, and graphite on the nose. On the palate, it's dry with high acidity, high tannins, high alcohol, full body, and pronounced primary and secondary flavors of black cherries, black currants, eucalyptus, tabacco, and wet gravel with a long finish. This wine is complex with enough fruit to balance the structure. Overall, I rate this wine as outstanding. Will pair wonderfully with the steaks we're having tonight. — 7 days ago

with Nellie

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Tensley – Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2022
Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Syrah from the high-elevation, rocky Colson Canyon Vineyard—a benchmark site for dense, expressive Rhône-style reds in Santa Barbara County. The 2022 shows trademark intensity with lifted aromatics and serious structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry and dark plum core with waves of pepper, smoked meat, coffee, and anise, plus subtle floral and stony/mineral undertones. Opens steadily in the glass, gaining savory complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with firm, well-knit tannins and lively acidity. Long, graceful finish. A touch of youthful CO₂ “ping” on opening can appear—vigorous swirling knocks it right back.

Winemaking Notes
Site-driven, concentrated Colson fruit; crafted for purity and power. 2022 has the stuffing to age 15–20 years, but is compelling with proper air today.

Food Pairing
Grilled lamb chops, pepper-crusted steak, duck confit, wild-mushroom ragù, smoked brisket, or aged Manchego/Gouda.

Verdict
An explosive yet composed Colson Canyon Syrah—all spice, smoke, and dark fruit wrapped in precision. Fantastic now after a hearty decant; built for the long haul. — 9 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

Rich and ripe - still with balsamic notes - lovely aromatics. A lively nose from this excellent Chianti vintage. Plummy, savoury red fruits, earthy, a trace of mushroom. Goes without saying that this is an excellent food wine, even with the extra ripeness from the 2016 vintage. — 14 days ago

Ronald LaMascus

9.2

As good as advertised! The nose permeates the air immediately upon uncorking! And what a nose it is! The ripe fruits just burst out of the bottle before you finish pouring the first few ounces. Full bodied, great mouthfeel, mild tannins but enough to think it could age a bit very nicely. But, why wait when it’s drinking so well already. Even though it sells in the $65-70 range nationally, my local wine store has it for under $40 which makes it quite the bargain. Will definitely be stocking up!! — 7 days ago

Jan de Weerd

9.2

Smooth, balanced and still a bit restrained. I am suspecting there is still more to be released in flavor. Small grained tannin, dark blue berry, moraine cherry fruit notes. Decent finish. — 9 days ago

with Tammy

Vanessa

9.2

🤩 Benanti is an iconic, family run estate with a front-seat majestic view of Etna’s terrain, founded by Giuseppe Benanti in 1988, now carried forward by Giuseppe’s two sons Antonio and Salvino. Preserving the heritage of Etna’s unique terroir, the Benantis devote themselves to making wine with local varieties. 🍇

After delicate pressing, the free-run juice underwent fermentation with an indigenous yeast and aged on the fine lees in stainless steel for 30 months with regular bâtonnage (stirring). 😆

📝 The result is divine with a bouquet of harmonious aromas and flavors featuring ripe papaya, mango, cantaloup, white nectarine, kumquat, bergamot, lemon oil, cherry blossom, cream, toast, gunflint, fresh tarragon, sage, crushed stones, oystershell, sea spray & blanched almond notes.

💫This wine has verve & elegance!

😋 On the palate, it’s dry, with electrifying acidity, a medium body, textured mouthfeel, medium alcohol (12.5% ABV) & persistent finish. — 12 days ago

with Deked1

Nathan Renfro

9.7

First bottle of the 2010. This is gonna be a really special wine but I think it need another 5-7 years. Tannins and softened, fruit is there, acidity is still strong, and don’t get me wrong it’s great now with a couple hour decant, but in a few years it’ll be really nice. Getting black, blue, and dark red fruit, ripe and juicy. Man so silky in the mouth. Graphite, stone, forest floor, cedar, hints of camphor, black licorice. Wonderful. Nice medium + finish. Really nice, only going to get better! — 8 days ago

Colin Cahoon

9.5

Adam Lee at his SLH best. Lush and complex. Dark cherry, cranberry, cinnamon, clove, a hint of stem and a solid oak backbone. Medium bodied, high alcohol, medium minus tannins, high acid, and a long finish. This is a big, bold pinot, (Burgundian on steroids?) without feeling forced. — 9 days ago

Brandon Boesch

9.5

One of the wines that taught me about wine. Still amazing. So good with food. Dark berries, acidity, stones, plum, spices, long finish with herbs, spices, wood, and more plums. Better after 2 hours of air. — 12 days ago

Brandon T

9.3

Medium body Pinot. Pomegranate, cherries, and some licorice. Young but opened up after about an hour. — 14 days ago