Pinotman /// Andreas

9.2

I love his wines and I guess lucky for me was added to his e-mail list a decade ago. This wine has now typicity aka terroir which comes from this vineyard (the vines are getting older he started out when they were quite young). Pear/honey on the nose - tons of acid, meyer lemon, sour mandarine on the back palate very restrained fruit. Not tropical or floral at all. Sharp clean and crisp. Almost steely. Very burgundian in style - folks would have a very hard time to identify this as CA in a blind tasting. 2 Puncheons produced and just 12.9%! (His Watson Ranch {napa}is my #1 but allocated followed by Heron Lake {wild horse valley}. Those 23‘s I will review in the future. — 14 days ago

Jake Hajer

9.3

This is a beautiful and exotic wine. 75ps/25rousanne- co-fermented. Harmonious. Wild cherry and blueberry. -chocolate, lilac, leather. Complex. Enjoyed and was different. — 3 years ago

Ned Gray Creed

9.5

Steep climb, well made wine. I’d drink that tons. — 7 years ago

with Mark

Kristin Donnelly

Senior Food Editor Food & Wine Magazine

9.0

Wild Horse founder Ken Volk poured this himself at a dinner at Artisan restaurant in Paso Robles. I could not believe how fresh this tasted — 11 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Tensley – Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2022
Santa Maria Valley AVA, Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Syrah from the high-elevation, rocky Colson Canyon Vineyard—a benchmark site for dense, expressive Rhône-style reds in Santa Barbara County. The 2022 shows trademark intensity with lifted aromatics and serious structure.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackberry and dark plum core with waves of pepper, smoked meat, coffee, and anise, plus subtle floral and stony/mineral undertones. Opens steadily in the glass, gaining savory complexity.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with firm, well-knit tannins and lively acidity. Long, graceful finish. A touch of youthful CO₂ “ping” on opening can appear—vigorous swirling knocks it right back.

Winemaking Notes
Site-driven, concentrated Colson fruit; crafted for purity and power. 2022 has the stuffing to age 15–20 years, but is compelling with proper air today.

Food Pairing
Grilled lamb chops, pepper-crusted steak, duck confit, wild-mushroom ragù, smoked brisket, or aged Manchego/Gouda.

Verdict
An explosive yet composed Colson Canyon Syrah—all spice, smoke, and dark fruit wrapped in precision. Fantastic now after a hearty decant; built for the long haul. — 2 months ago

Ben Christen

9.2

Tasty. Light, lemon 🍋. Great Chardonnay — 5 years ago

with Ellen

J.B. Andrews

9.2

cat pee'd on horse blanket cloudy Pilsner funk fest. awesome! — 10 years ago

Josh

8.9

Nice and smooth — 11 years ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Sanguis Amour Fou Rosé #12
Santa Ynez Valley, Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
An adventurous, skin-contact rosé by Sanguis, the Santa Barbara auteur driven by Matthias Pippig. Amour Fou #12 is a bold, sensory-rich expression blending Grenache, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Roussanne (skin-fermented), and Pinot Noir, with a vibrant splash of Cabernet Sauvignon noted in earlier editions. It embodies the wild-spirited, terroir-first approach that defines Sanguis.   

Aromas & Flavors
Enchanting and layered—grilled peach, tangerine peel, crushed petals, and wild herbs on the nose. The palate shines with juicy watermelon, subtle herbal spice, and a lingering chalky minerality, reflecting the cool coastal vineyards.  

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a lively structure, delicate tannic grip, and a finish that is both fresh and enduring. The skin contact gives it a nuanced grip while maintaining aromatic finesse.

Winemaking Notes
This vintage is a co-ferment in concrete and seasoned oak, with prolonged skin contact (specifics varied per edition). It’s meticulously unfiltered and artisan in style.  

Food Pairing
Terrific with grilled shrimp tacos, gazpacho, or sushi. Also delightfully versatile with charcuterie and summer fare.

Verdict
Amour Fou Rosé #12 is a fearless, complex rosé that defies simple categorization—it’s bold, elegant, and utterly compelling. A must-try for any adventurous wine lover. — 2 months ago

Dr. Owen Bargreen

9.6

The 2016 ‘The Funk Estate’ is a stunning new wine by superstar winemaker Richard Funk of Saviah Cellars. Chosen to co-ferment 4% Viognier with Syrah, this immediately entices with bright citrus blossom aromatics that combine with the deep dark fruits, green olive, bacon fat and horse manure aromatics that all shine brightly in unison. Soft, round and generous, there is a seamless quality to this wine that is apparent. Black tea, clove, cigar ash, Umami, red cherry puree and suggestions of wild blackberry cordial all marvelously combine in this utterly thrilling palate. I really enjoy this sensational Syrah at this stage in its development, and my feeling is there is no reason to cellar it for more than another seven years. Drink 2019-2026- 96 — 6 years ago