2010 Camp 4 Vineyard Blanc – (65% Grenache Blanc; 35% Roussanne)


We like to say that these two varietals complement each as well and Jennifer and Joey do. The Grenache Blanc and Roussane for this unique blend come from continuous blocks in the Camp 4 vineyard and were pressed together to neutral French oak barrels. The wine was then aged on the lees and bottled early (in January) to retain freshness and crisp acidity. The Grenache Blanc brims with steely minerality and bright notes of green apple that balance beautifully with the rich, tropical fruits and lush mouth feel of the Roussanne. Pair this Blanc with spicy Thai dishes, fish dishes, or chilled shellfish. This complex wine is enjoyable now but should age well over the next 3 to 4 years.


Price: $28.00
Cellar Club Price: $23.80
Cases Produced: 180

2010 Noir Syrah (formerly the anniversary series)


This vintage of the Noir, like vintages past, is made from the very best fermenters of Colson Canyon fruit aged for 16 months in 100 percent new French oak. 2010 was a very late harvest that gave the grapes plenty of time to hang on the vine and deepen in intensity. The lengthy aging and new oak have taken that intensity to the next level. This Noir is a velvety mouthful of jammy stone fruits, blackberries, dark chocolate and espresso with hints of vanilla and black pepper. Notes of graphite and smoky meats also assert themselves. Complex and balanced with a long finish and solid tannic structure, enjoy this wine now or age it over the next fifteen years.


Price: $55.00
Cellar Club Price: $46.75
Cases Produced: 150

"Deux Terres" (French for two soils)


This wine is made up of 50% 2009 Lea Turner Vineyard Pinot Noir (92 points, Wine Spectator Insider) and 50% 2009 Santenay-Commes Premier Cru Burgundy from Domaine Roger Belland.  To our knowledge this is the first time California Pinot Noir and Premier Cru Burgundy have come together in one bottle.

While you might suspect that the California Pinot Noir would dominate the Burgundy in this blend, that is not at all the case.  From the first hints of red fruits and earth on the nose to the silky texture and notes of bright berries and minerals in the mouth, the Santenay-Commes makes its presence known. The Lea Turner Vineyard Pinot Noir balances out the blend with floral aromatics, bright notes of wild cherries and a velvety texture that leads to the wine's long, lush finish.


Price: $45.00
Cellar Club Price: $38.25
Cases Produced: 100

2010 Santa Barbara County Syrah SOLD OUT


The grapes for this year’s Santa Barbara County Syrah were sourced from five distinct vineyards. 40% of the fruit comes from the Camp 4 Vineyard; 25% is from the Mormon Vineyard in the Santa Rita Hills appellation, and the remainder comes from Thompson, Tierra Alta, and Colson Canyon in equal parts. Moorman is a new addition for us and introduces prominent notes of pepper and red fruits typical of Syrahs grown in the cooler Santa Rita Hills climate. The Camp 4 brings bright notes of raspberry and blueberry along with a streak of minerality while the Thompson, Tierra Alta, and Colson combine to add a lush mouthfeel and notes of black stone fruits, smoked meats and chocolate. Drink this wine now or age it over the next 3 to 5 years.


Price: $25.00
Cellar Club Price: $21.25
Cases Produced: 800

2010 Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah


Approximately half of our wine production is made up of fruit from the meticulously farmed vineyard high in the mountains of Tepesquet Canyon. Colson Canyon is the only one of our wines to see any new oak. It is aged in 20% new, 20% one-year-old, and 60% neutral French oak barrels to add a bit of sweet vanilla and coffee to the finish. The 2010 growing season was long and cool allowing the grapes to develop wonderful complexity and concentration. The 2010 Colson once again delivers its signature flavors of graphite, blackcurrant, raspberries and bacon complemented by a solid tannic structure and balanced acidity. Drink this wine now or age it for up to 15 years.


Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced: 1802

2010 Turner Vineyard Syrah


As we have said, the 2010 was a very long, very late harvest. It was the longest of all for the Turner which didn’t come in until almost Thanksgiving. Yields were low in the extreme. We only produced one barrel of Turner in the 2010 vintage. As the coolest of our Syrah vineyards, Turner always turns out a wine full of black and white pepper and delivers more of an old world profile. In fact, the 2009 Turner was a favorite among French and American tasters at Hospice du Rhone this year.


Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced: 25

2010 Thompson Vineyard Syrah SOLD OUT

The Thompson Vineyard, established in 1990, has long been a Santa Barbara County favorite for Syrah. 2010 marks our 13th vintage of Thompson Vineyard Syrah, and it stands out as a very complex, very sophisticated offering. As usual with Thompson, yields were kept naturally low in the vineyard due to Thompson’s cool nights, great drainage and windy conditions. As is also usual with Thompson, this wine strikes a beautiful balance between acidity, fruit and tannins. This ruby red wine offers up notes of blackberries and cassis along with a pure core of minerality and and elegant silky mouthfeel that ends in a long and powerful finish. We like this Syrah with duck or turkey as well as lamb and meat dishes. We suggest aging this Thompson for up to 10 or 12 years.


Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced: 175

2010 Tierra Alta Vineyard Syrah


In 2010 Tierra Alta lowered its output by dropping their crop to one cluster per shoot for a yield of about two and a half tons per acre. The result is a darker and more concentrated Tierra Alta than we have seen in years past. But have no fear, this Tierra Alta still shines with all the wonderful characteristics that its famed clone has to offer. The 99 Syrah clone is known for its mineral and earthy nuances and dynamic yet elegant fruit notes. So while this vintage is very extracted, it is also very finessed and feminine. This wine is driven by velvety flavors of plum, violet, and blueberry balanced by a strong backbone of lively acidity. Try this Syrah with duck or turkey as well as heartier meat dishes. Drink this wine now or age it over the next 8 or 9 years.


Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced: 225

2010 Santa Barbara County Grenache


This Grenache was sourced from two excellent vineyards – Camp 4 and Colson Canyon. We also added 10% Colson Canyon Syrah to add texture and complexity. The result is a wine with a dusting of earth notes and snappy acidity and minerality. Look for flavors of cherries, white pepper, licorice,and spice and a velvety mouthfeel leading to a lingering finish. Enjoy this Grenache with a wide array of dishes from spicy chicken entrees to rich meat dishes. Drink this wine now or age it up to 6 years.


Price: $32.00
Cellar Club Price: $27.20
Cases Produced: 95

2010 Lea, Turner Vineyard Pinot Noir

Year after year this Pinot Noir clone (the Pommard clone) and this sandy-soiled, low yielding Sta. Rita Hills vineyard deliver beautiful fruit. The berries for this wine are consistently tiny and highly concentrated. In 2010 those berries got the added benefit of a long, cool growing season that allowed them time to hang out and grow in complexity. This wine is focused, round and lush in the mouth with notes of blackberry, blueberry and purple plums. While it has a solid tannic structure, the tannins themselves are soft and grainy making the wine very drinkable even at this young age. Pair this wine with anything from salmon to hearty beef dishes. We believe this Pinot will age well over the next 8 to 10 years.


Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced: 200

2010 Lea Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay


This is the first Chardonnay Jennifer has ever made and she could not have been happier with the beautiful fruit she received from the acclaimed Moorman Vineyard which is ideally located in the heart of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Never a fan of heavy oak and big, buttery style wines, this wine was aged in neutral French oak (true to the traditional Tensley style) and retains crisp acidity bright minerality and freshness. Look for notes of lemony citrus, pear and grapefruit with a rounded mouthfeel and long, clean finish. Drink this wine now or enjoy it over the next three to five years.

Price: $32.00             
Cellar Club Price: $27.50           
Cases Produced: 175

2010 O.G.T. MAGNUM - Syrah


After tasting many blends, we once again decided on a 50% Colson Canyon Syrah; 25% Thompson Syrah and 25% Tierra Alta Syrah blend. The Colson Canyon brings weight, extraction and notes of chocolate and smoked meats to the equation while the Thompson adds mouthwatering notes of bright red fruits and a solid structure. The Tierra Alta rounds out the blend with its minerality and deep berry notes. As always we ask ourselves how this blend reflects the personality of its namesake, our son, Oliver Gunnar Tensley. The Colson brings to mind Oliver’s openness and warm-hearted nature. Thompson definitely reflects his more serious, contemplative side. And Tierra Alta? That reminds us of his vivid imagination. Overall this wine is a delightfully complex blend replete with notes of jammy fruits, a round, viscous mouthfeel and a long, lingering finish. Drink this wine now or allow it to age for the next 5 to 12 years.


Price: $85.00
Cellar Club Price: $72.25
Cases Produced: 220

2010 B.M.T. MAGNUM Grenache/Syrah


Unlike the OGT, the blend for the BMT, named for our niece, Bailey Michelle Tensley, has changed. This year it is a complex blend of 25% Camp 4 Grenache; 25% Colson Canyon Grenache; 25% Rodney’s Vineyard Syrah; and 25% Colson Canyon and Tierra Alta Vineyard Syrahs combined. Whew. This ever-evolving blend brings to mind that Bailey herself, now a high-school senior, is evolving from a girl to a beautiful young woman. As always, the bright fruits and earthiness of the Grenache remind us of both Bailey’s elegant style and her down-to-earth good nature. The Syrahs in this wine bring in deep and complex notes of chocolate and violets and add a touch of velvet to the texture. What more could a girl ask for? The tannic structure and beautiful balance of this wine testify to its age-worthy nature. While this wine is enjoyable now we believe it will age beautifully over the next ten years.


Price: $85.00
Cellar Club Price: $72.25
Cases Produced: 220