2008 Camp 4 Blanc - 65% Grenache Blanc; 35% Roussanne


The Grenache Blanc and Roussane come from continuous blocks in the Camp 4 vineyard and were picked on the same day then pressed together to neutral French oak barrels. This blend was then aged on the lees and bottled early (in January) to retain freshness and crisp acidity. The Grenache Blanc brings in bright notes of fresh, crisp green apples and minerals which balance beautifully with the rich tropical fruit and decadent floral notes of the lush and viscous Roussanne. This complex wine is enjoyable now but should age well over the next 3 to 4 years.

Price: $28.00
Cellar Club: $23.80
Cases Produced: 200

2008 Roussanne Camp 4 Vineyard


In blending the Roussanne and Grenache Blanc for our Campy 4 Blanc, the final percentages are based on taste, not formula. This year the Roussanne was so viscous and bold and the Grenache Blanc so flavorful, we used one half-ton less Roussanne fruit than expected. We decided to take that half ton of extraordinary fruit, age in on the lees in neutral French oak, and bottle it by itself. Rich and viscous, this wine is a big mouthful of almonds, honey, and cane sugar with a touch of fruit and minerals. If you like big, bold wines this one’s for you. Drink this Roussanne now or age it another 3 to 4 years.

Price: $28.00
Cellar Club: $23.80
Cases Produced: 23

2007 Colson Canyon Grenache


Grenache produced from the vineyard at all. 2007 gave us an outstanding harvest across the Santa Barbara appellation, and this Grenache was no exception. Rich and fruity, deep and concentrated, this wine resonates with notes of spice, plums, blackberries and raspberries. Its particularly earthy notes are due in part to a 30 percent whole cluster fermentation that brings Colson’s unique terroir to the forefront. 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 9 years.

Price: $32.00
Cellar Club Price: $27.20
Cases Produced: 170

2007 10th Anniversary Colson Canyon Syrah


In making this Syrah commemorating ten years of Tensley, we selected the very best fermenter of 2007 Colson Canyon fruit. 2007 was a stellar vintage and we were thrilled to have such beautiful, dark fruit to make this very special wine. We followed our tried and true method of three times daily hand punch downs for three weeks. Then wine was then pressed to 100% new French oak barrels where it aged for 16 months.

Price: $50.00
Cellar Club Price: $42.50
Cases Produced: 47

2007 Santa Barbara County Syrah


This year’s Santa Barbara Syrah was sourced from three distinct vineyards: Camp 4 (41%), Clover Creek, (44%) and Colson Canyon (15%). The Camp 4 brings in bright notes of raspberry, red stone fruits, and earth while the Clover Creek introduces a deep, jammy core of black fruits and berries. The Colson pulls it all together with just the right hints of chocolate, minerals, smoked meats and a streak of tannins to balance it all out. Drink this wine now or age it over the next 3 to 5 years.

Price: $25.00
Cellar Club Price: $21.25
Cases Produced: 245

2008 Lea Tierra Alta Syrah Rose


The grapes for Jennifer “Lea” Tensley’s Rosé come from a single vineyard, Tierra Alta, and a single Syrah clone, Tablas 99. Yields in the vineyard were only about three tons per acre. In 2006 Robert Parker awarded Jennifer’s Rosé 90 points. She feels the 2008 Rosé may be her best vintage yet. Jennifer and her five-year-old son, Oliver, crushed the grapes for this wine by foot. Half of the fruit remained on the skins for only three hours before being pressed to neutral French oak barrels. The other half stayed on the skins overnight. The resulting wine is rich in color with a silky, rounded mouthfeel and a crisp, refreshing finish. Look for notes of rose petals, strawberries, and raspberries complemented by a hint of minerality. This wine pairs beautifully with spicy Mexican or Asian dishes. It should be enjoyed over the next two years.

Price: $20.00             
Cellar Club Price: $17.00          
Cases Produced: 185

2007 Lea Turner Vineyard Pinot Noir SOLD OUT


The 2007 vintage produced the most concentrated Pinot we have yet seen from this ideally situated Sta. Rita Hills vineyard. Jennifer made this wine using 30% whole cluster fermentation and neutral French oak barrels to allow the Turner terroir to shine boldy through. Rich with notes of allspice, raspberry and black cherry, this Pinot is full-bodied with a broad, textured mouthfeel and long, silky finish. While it is drinking beautifully now, it has the structure to age well over the next 6 to 7 years.

Price: $38.00             
Cellar Club Price: $32.30           
Cases Produced: 97

2007 Thompson Vineyard Syrah

2007 truly was a remarkable year with a near perfect growing season that produced small, highly concentrated berries and a deep layered wine. As always the Thompson manages to strike a near perfect harmony between acidity, fruit and tannins. This wine fills the mouth with a berry-driven roundness and hints of earth, minerals and leather. The Thompson is always an excellent choice for aging and will evolve gracefully over the next 12 years.

Price: $38.00
Cellar Club: $32.30
Cases Produced: 162

2007 Tierra Alta Vineyard Syrah

As always the 99 Syrah clone we source from this vineyard hillside comes through with just the right touch of mineral and spice to add depth to this juicy, fruit-driven wine. Bursting with notes of vibrant huckleberry and wild berries, this Syrah also shows nuances of earth and leather. Deep and round with a long, smooth finish, this wine
is tempting even at a young age but has the structure to last the next 10 years.

Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced: 330

2007 Turner Vineyard Syrah.

Turner is Tensley’s only cool climate vineyard and as such brings a unique flavor profile to our family of wines. While it shows vibrant, mouthwatering notes of red plums, blackberries and black cherries, it also has a deep and peppery core balanced by hints of earth, minerals and charcoal. This Syrah is smooth and round with great acidity and aging potential (7 to 10 years). Try pairing this wine with a variety of dishes from chicken to bold, meaty entrees. 

Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced:42

2007 Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah

Approximately half of our wine production is made up of fruit from the meticulously farmed vineyard located high in the mountains off Tepusquet 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. The 2007 growing season was exceptional. Low rainfall and long, cool hang times before harvest meant small, concentrated berries and wine heaven. Our Colson fruit made a dark, inky wine rich in stone fruit, violets and blackberries. It shows good balance and roundness and a harmonious blending of tannin and acidity. Drink this wine now or age it up to 15 years.

Price: $38.00
Cellar Club Price: $32.30
Cases Produced: 1450

2007 O.G.T. Syrah (Magnums Only) SOLD OUT

As many of you know, before Oliver was born we never blended our single-parcel Syrahs. But once we decided to name a wine for him we knew no single parcel would do. The flavor profile of this wine would have to be as imaginative, creative, joyful, and complex as our little boy himself. As always we tasted several different blends before deciding on the right equation for this year’s OGT. In the end we once again chose a 50% Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah, 25% Tierra Alta Vineyard Syrah, and 25% Thompson Vineyard Syrah blend. The Colson brings weight, roundness, and rich, dark stone fruits to the table while the Thompson shines with streaks of earth and dark berries. Beautifully balanced tannins that are soft and grainy in the mouth round out the picture of a Syrah that is age-worthy and should develop beautifully over the next 8 to 12 years.

Price: $85.00
Cellar Club Price: $72.25
Cases Produced: 122

2007 B.M.T. Syrah (Magnums Only) SOLD OUT

We also decided to keep the blend the same as last year for this year’s B.M.T. Syrah. The 50% Three Creek Vineyard Syrah, 25% Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah, and 25% Colson Canyon Vineyard Grenache blend beautifully reflects the complex personality of our niece, Bailey Michelle Tensley. The Three Creek Syrah, bold and flavorful, reminded us of Bailey’s fun and adventurous spirit while the Colson Canyon’s licorice and spice brought to mind her sly sense of humor. The graceful and elegant Grenache perfectly reflects our niece as she grows into a lovely and self-assured young woman. This wine is aromatic and jammy with notes of black cherry and raspberries interwoven with nuances of violets, chocolate, and smoke. Rich and well-structured this blend is sure to age well over the next ten years.

Price: $85.00
Cellar Club Price: $72.25
Cases produced: 141