About
Tensley Wines crafts exceptional Syrah and Rhône varietals from unique Santa Barbara County vineyard sites, ranging from cool coastal areas to warmer inland slopes. Founded in 1998, the winery emphasizes meticulous farming, sustainable practices, and low yields to produce bold, structured wines with intense flavor and acidity. Their portfolio features estate wines, blends like Fundamental and P2KV, and single-vineyard expressions from sites like Tensley Estate and Colson Canyon.
Rhône Varietals
Santa Barbara Syrah
Grenache blends
Single-vineyard expressions
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What They Make
2023 Fundamental Cabernet Sauvignon
The nose is greeted with aromas of dark berries and subtle notes of fresh tarragon and mocha. On the palate, flavors of blackberry, plum and elderberry are followed by hints of hazelnut and vanilla. This full-bodied Cab is bold yet elegant, with velvety structured tannins and a lingering rich, black fruit finish.
2023 Fundamental Pinot Noir
The nose is greeted with strawberry and black cherry notes, followed by cranberry, vanilla and mocha aromas. This medium-bodied Pinot Noir offers bright acidity and soft tannins with a lingering toasty oak finish.
2023 Fundamental Red Blend
The nose is greeted with blackberry and elderberry notes, followed by plum, black tea and cedar aromas. The thoughtful integration of French oak provides subtle notes of vanilla and mocha. This medium-bodied blend of primary Rhone-style varieties offers structured tannins and bright black fruit flavors in the lingering smokey oak finish.
2023 Fundamental White Blend
2024 All Blocks Red Wine
All Blocks is a blend coming from all the blocks on both of our vineyards Tensley and Colson Canyon. Made up of 80% Grenache, 19% Syrah, and 1% Mourvedre, this blend results in silky, feminine, tannins and texture. It is full bodied yet elegant and smooth Jammy red and black berries, ripe figs, new leather, herbes de Provence, and spicy, subtle peppery notes all define the aromatics.
2024 BMT
The 2024 BMT this year is made up of 50% Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah, 25% Colson Canyon Grenache and 25% Watch Hill Vineyard Petite Syrah. While in the past this wine has been 50% Rodney’s Vineyard Syrah, we had to pivot due to the Lake fire early in the growing season which affected this vineyard. Just when we thought this wine couldn't get much better, the new blend blew us away with this killer vintage that wine critics have named sexy and explosive. This wine is named for my niece, Bailey Michelle Tensley, and like Bailey herself, it is elegant yet powerful. The grenache gives this red wine a velvety silky finish and an almost flawless balance. Red, blue, and black fruits, heavenly orange blossom and herbaceous notes, with a peppery finish.
Latest News
2024 releases including Colson Canyon All Blocks Red Wine and BMT Red Blend, with high scores from Jeb Dunnuck and Vinous.