WTN: A new bar for California Syrah

[Jenise]

For me, anyway. It's not like I actually drink that much California syrah--we see few in Washington and new world syrah isn't my favorite thing anyway. But this one blew us away the other night. I bought it for one of my neighborhood wine tastings but may love it too much to share. Recently purchased for just $19 from Last Bottle:

2014 Tensley Syrah Santa Barbara County
Expectations greatly exceeded: exuberant, effortlessly enjoyable boysenberry fruit initially blinds one to the complexity--some herbs, some bacon--that come into play toward the end of a PnP'd bottle for two. While being unmistakably syrah, this could be the ultimate expression of the California style because of what it's not: it's not Northern Rhone, it's not Australian, it's not Washington nor does it seem to want to be. It's very definitely something else, and something VERY very good.

$19 is a very nice price for one of Joey Tensley's wines..Another Cal syrah that I have enjoyed and found reliable over the years, and reasonably priced, is Bedrock's Syrah

[Jenise]

I've liked Bedrock too; but it was a bit more dapper. Solid, but almost cab-like in structure vs. the joyous complexity of this Tensley.

Nice. It has been years since I have had a Tensley. I don't buy much Cali Syrah so I am generally dependent on my friends. People have gone bonkers for Bedrock. I am yet to have my Bedrock epiphany although I have had a lot. While in TX last week I was tasked with buying the wine so I took the opportunity to throw one into the mix. Again, it was wasted on me. I am waiting until I can taste some aged bottles. But I just jumped back to the 2012 Saddleback Rancher Red which was of course delicious.

Sorry I got sidetracked

Cheers,
Jason

[Jenise]

Jason, I'm not really a Cali syrah drinker either. Actually, I'm not much of a new world syrah drinker period. On the big/power side, I recently enjoyed an 04 Pax, but I probably have enjoyed most those that are more medium bodied and bright/energetic (one might say pinot-ish) like this Tensley and Copain's entry level syrah in 2010. I honestly don't get to taste that many Cal-syrahs up here, as you'd guess. I certainly didn't expect to find this one any more than just 'serviceable'.

I don't drink much WA syrah either, though I do admire the burly animale style of Cayuse and Reynvaan. Speaking of the latter, they just got a 97 pt wine in the low teens of the Speck's Top 100, further cementing their reputation as the next Cayuse. And justifying, I'm sure, another price jump. I saw that prices are way up on the secondary market, if Winebid is an accurate barometer.

The only Tensley syrah I ever had was called "Lite", and indeed it was. In a good way (it would horrify many I'm sure).

Most of my American Syrah is Arcadian, Copain, & Dehlinger, all of which I enjoy a lot. I do think I will be buying more Syrah from Matello in Oregon. I have never heard of Reynvaan and I don't think I have ever had a chance to taste a Cayuse. They are one of those wine I do want to taste. Is it true that there main Vineyards are actually in Oregon?

Jason

Donelan makes some very nice Syrahs, big wines, take some aging, and they ain't cheap..but they are good..They do a nice job with chards as well tho I find myself drinking very little chard these days.
They are located in the Santa Rosa area tho they source from a number of sites,

[Jenise]

Most of my American Syrah is Arcadian, Copain, & Dehlinger, all of which I enjoy a lot. I do think I will be buying more Syrah from Matello in Oregon. I have never heard of Reynvaan and I don't think I have ever had a chance to taste a Cayuse. They are one of those wine I do want to taste. Is it true that there main Vineyards are actually in Oregon?

Jason

Haven't had any Matello. Rogue? In fact the only Oregon syrah I've had is a very fine peppery one from Cristom's small, cool Willamette vineyard. I was so impressed after having it in a restaurant, I ordered half a case the very next day. Have you had it?