Freddy R. Troya

9.2

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. — 3 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

Purple in color with a wide reddish rim.

Pretty nose of black fruits with wood, licorice and chocolate notes.

Full-bodied and elegant, with medium acidity and long legs.

Dry and fruity on the palate with black currants, black plums, blackberries, earth, light oak, spices, chocolates, coffee, licorice, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Medium finish with fine grained tannins and cherries.

This 5 year old Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles is tasty and still drinking very nicely. Nicely balanced and elegant. Complex and interesting.

Peaking now, and will drink nicely in the next couple of years.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. A good party wine too.

A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah and 5% Petite Sirah.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$18. — 22 days ago

Tholyer Sartoni

9.1

Yummy light pinot noir. Taste of dark, ripe berries — 11 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.7

Ridge Vineyards – Zinfandel – 2023
Benito Dusi Ranch – Paso Robles – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An extraordinary single-vineyard Zinfandel from one of the most historic and consistent sites in Paso Robles. The 2023 vintage delivers depth, purity, and that unmistakable Dusi Ranch character—old-vine concentration wrapped in Ridge’s signature balance and finesse. This bottling remains one of the benchmark Zinfandels in California.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry compote, ripe plum, and raspberry preserve with accents of warm spice, licorice, dried herbs, and a touch of cracked pepper. Subtle cocoa and cedar from restrained oak play in the background.

Mouthfeel
Full-bodied and richly textured, yet never heavy. Juicy acidity energizes the palate while fine, structured tannins keep everything focused. Long, plush, and satisfyingly powerful.

Food Pairings
BBQ ribs, grilled lamb chops, wood-fired pizza, smoky brisket, or aged Gouda.

Verdict
A stellar expression of old-vine Paso Robles Zinfandel, opulent, balanced, and deeply flavorful. A true standout in Ridge’s portfolio.

Did You Know?
The Dusi family has farmed this vineyard for generations, and Ridge has made wine from the site since 1967. These old vines consistently produce some of the most character-rich Zinfandel in the state, making Benito Dusi one of Ridge’s most iconic single-vineyard bottlings.

🍷 Personal Pick Highlight
This sits at the very top of my favorite Zinfandels, extraordinary from start to finish, and a reminder of why Ridge continues to define the category. — 22 days ago

Rob N

9.4

This wine from Saxum is a great value — smooth, even fruit; great balance overall. 79% syrah, 7% petite sirah, 7% grenache, 5% mourvédre. 97 points from Robert Parker and $129 when I bought it from K&L although market looks more like $160 now. — 12 days ago

Kelley Raymond

9.3

Best always crowd pleaser — 11 days ago

Tegan Marriott

8.9

Santa Barbara highlands radiance in a glass! Yo, I'll pretend I'm rolling through da Wine Ghetto! — 12 days ago

Mark S.

9.0

Ruby red slightly with violet. raspberry blueberry clove nutmeg red tea. Red flower. Meaty black berry cherry
Fruitiness M+ Sweetness M Acidity M++ Tannin M Body M Finish M 13.5% Sonoma
22 @10450, AD, 251210 — a day ago

Ray Roman

9.0

Really enjoyed this wine. Smooth and as others have said, fruit forward. — 10 days ago

JC Muehlenberg

9.0

Light, very universal. — 12 days ago