TN: 2002 Tensley Syrah Thompson Vineyard

WINE TALK
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  • 2002 Tensley Syrah Thompson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (12/12/2010)
    P & P’ed. Should have decanted, tons of sediment. Just had a glass after dinner and wow has this wine ever blossomed! Really intriguing nose of lush dark fruits, herbal aromas and old world funk. Palate is more of the same. This has turned into a serious syrah and I will post more after trying again tonight.
    Skipped day 2.
    Day 3 - Nice…sweet cherry licorice, strawberries, fresh raspberries, cassis, baking spices on nose. Palate smooth as silk with bacon fat, hint of the fruits, very clean aftertaste. Medium bodied and full of character. Man is this a great wine!

Posted from CellarTracker

Looking forward to diving into the rest of the Tensley bottles I have from 02 & 03. Worth the wait for this wine to come around.

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Sounds delicious. Good to hear the Tensley’s holding up to a few years of age.

3

This was the first of what would become many Califonia Syrah’s that I ever tasted.

Thanks a lot for the note!

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Joey does a great job with Syrah. For those who are concerned about ABV, his Syrahs are usually in the moderate- for Syrah- range 13s to low 14s. [wow.gif]

5

I started getting his wines in '08 with the '06 vintage. They must hide decanters in that tasting room because it was drinkable at the time. I tried a couple bottles and they were backward as hell. What I have will sleep for some time. Someday I will have my fruity bacon-y syrah goodness, oh yes.

Glad to hear they come around. I’ve heard good syrah can be very awkward when youthful.

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I bought a case of 02’s and another of 03’s all about 5 - 6 years ago (mixed vineyards) and looking back at the tasting notes of the 9 bottles I have tried over the years it seems that they drink ok after release then go into a long slumber. A couple of the bottles I would open and be disappointed and leave on counter for up to 1 week and then try before dumping and found that they have opened up and drank well. These are made for the long haul, glad I have a stash in cellar.

I know the Bob really likes this winery, probably why I bought them back then.