100-Point Santa Barbara Winery Drops New Vintage of Rosé & a Fresh Look at Syrah

Tensley Wines made waves when their 2019 Syrah Noir was given a 100-point score by acclaimed wine critic Jeb Dunnuck. It brought attention to their wines in the form of new collectors, and a fresh new set of eyes from the media. It also gave the winery a confidence to continue executing on a high level while also trying new things.

Today the 2023 Tensley Rosé of Grenache is available to purchase exclusively through their Tasting Room in Los Olivos, CA this Valentine’s Day – retailing for only $32 per bottle! This estate grown, vineyard-designate rosé comes from the tiny three acre parcel of Grenache at Colson Canyon Vineyard, harvesting only from 4 rows specifically farmed for this wine. As one of the only single parcel rosé being made in the US, Tensley’s goal is to make the most unique, terroir driven Rosé possible.

This light-medium body, fruit-forward wine contains notes of strawberry, blood orange and passion fruit. Bright acidity reminiscent of ripe grapefruit. Hints of floral and a slight minerality on the finish really round out this beautiful wine to give it lucious, fruity, edgeless texture. Its complexity makes it ideal to pair with a slew of Valentine’s Day dinners and desserts.

The next big thing from Tensley Wines in their new Syrah Lite. The term "lite" is multi-faceted in its meaning for this wine: it is derived from the fact that the wine is harvested earlier than a traditional Syrah, resulting in lower sugar and therefore lower alcohol levels, as well as a nod to its affordable price point. This wine has a suggested retail price of $20 per bottle!

The grapes are farmed under practicing organic methods. This Syrah only macerates for 6 days and is aged for 6 months in neutral barrels. Tensley uses as little interference as possible when making this wine and lets the wine speak for itself. The Lite is still a substantial Syrah, but possessing a Northern Rhône flair: meaning the fruit doesn't overshadow the wine’s complexities and natural flavors.

Tensley’s Syrah Lite elicits all the aromas that are characteristic of Syrah: spice, berries,  with a touch of olive and tea. Notes of violets, spice, plum, black olives, and eucalyptus pair well with anything off the grill or from the smoker, Mexican stewed beef, or pasta with wild mushrooms and aged Parmigiano Reggiano.

As a steady hand in the evolution of Syrah brilliance coming out Santa Barbara County, Tensley looks to its successful past as it reaches forward to push the boundaries of what's possible from top vineyards in Santa Barbara. They also have a tasting room in Brentwood—one of La's most posh neighborhoods. Visit tensleywines.com for more information