| Score: |
94+ AG.
"An element of floral lift from the addition of 25% Colson Canyon Grenache distinguishes the 2009 BMT Syrah from the rest of the wines in this lineup. The BMT wraps around the palate with serious intensity. Layers of fruit continue to build as the wine flows through to its vibrant, perfumed finish. A last burst of juicy, ripe fruit rounds things out in compelling fashion . . . . Joey Tensley’s wines represent some of the most intense expressions of Rhone varieties – Syrah in particular – in the Central Coast. The wines are aged for about 11 months on their lees, with an addition of SO2 just prior to bottling. Tensley uses around one-third whole clusters and mostly neutral oak, which allows the unique qualities of these sites to come through. Tensley’s 2009s are big wines. A spring frost lowered yields by about 15%. Temperatures rarely climbed above 90 degrees and the evenings, especially around harvest, saw temperatures dip into the 40s. Rainfall was lower than normal, which contributes to the richness and concentration of the vintage. Today the 2010s are far more approachable than the stacked and packed 2009s. I would prefer to drink the younger vintage first. The 2010s are the product of a cooler year and have 1% lower alcohol across the board." Wine Advocate #202, Aug 2012 |