Bouquet has hint of fresh fruit with a light leather scent. Smooth irresistible blend of flavors. — 11 days ago
New Years Tradition! — 4 days ago
Given to me for our anniversary. Really smooth bottle.  — 11 days ago
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. — a month ago
December wine, paired with pan seared Pacific sockeye salmon. — 20 days ago
Wanted an inexpensive steak wine tonight, and I got lucky with this one. Bold blackberries and cassis, yes, but this wine has poise and elegance. Wonderfully balanced with a luxurious mouthfeel, I'd be satisfied spending 3x what I did ($18)
Listening to Miles Davis — 23 days ago

A: Very good
B: Didn't have it (was ladies dinner) — 18 hours ago
Tom Barras
The delicious, smoothly textured, 2021 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) is intensely colored, nicely balanced, and well structured; medium>full, with an abundance of aromatic and flavorsome black fruits (Bing cherry, blackberry); refined with barrel aging notes (spice, vanilla, toast); and framed with medium acidity and smooth tannins at the mouth cleansing finish. Tasty stuff, and should be ideal with tonight’s wine-braised, beef short ribs and potato pancakes, Happy New Year from Napa Valley! — 2 days ago