2017 Tensley Syrah Anniversary Series
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Flirting with perfection, the 2017 Syrah Noir checks in as 100% Syrah mostly from Colson Canyon (always the same parcel and minuscule yields) yet includes 40% from Tensley's home vineyard. Aside from the Colson Canyon Syrah, it's the only wine to see new oak, and this cuvée spends upwards of 18 months in 60% new barrels. This magical Syrah reveals a saturated purple color as well as a mammoth bouquet of blackberries, blueberries, herbes de Provence, bacon fat, chocolate, and charred meats. With a super-sized personality, full-bodied richness, yet no sensation of weight or heaviness, it has everything you could want from a California Syrah. It's brilliant today yet will be even better in 2-3 years and is going to cruise in cool cellars for another 10-15 years.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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The 2017 Syrah Noir is a blend crafted from an especially stressed block of Syrah at Colson Canyon and a low-vigor parcel from Tensley's estate in Los Olivos aged in 50% new oak. Pliant, racy and seductive, the 2017 Noir has so much to offer. Blue/black fruit, licorice, spice, menthol and a touch of sweet oak meld together in this sublime, polished Syrah from Joey Tensley. All the best elements of the Tensley style come through.
Deep ruby-purple colored, the 2017 Syrah Noir has a youthfully coiled, spicy nose with nutmeg, cardamom, pencil shavings, fried sage, bacon fat, coffee bean and dried florals with an impenetrable core of ripe black and blue fruits. It's full-bodied and tightly wound in the mouth with loads of latent flavor layers, framed by firm, chewy tannins and seamless freshness and finishing long and intense. Just a baby! This needs loads more time in bottle.