2015 Joey Tensley Fundamental Rhone Blend Central Coast 750 ml

Joey Tensley Launches "Fundamental"  

Joey Tensley’s wines “represent some of the most intense expressions of Rhône varieties” according to Antonio Galloni, and we are honored that he turned to Wine Access to help launch his new brand. We suspect that, once the scores for today’s offer of the 2015 Joey Tensley “Fundamental” Rhône-style red blend see the light of day, Joey Tensley Wines will need no help at all.

When we spoke to Joey, Wine Spectator, Vinous, and Wine Enthusiast had all received or tasted the inaugural vintage of “Fundamental” — a big, voluptuous, juicy red — and a visit from the Wine Advocate was imminent. In the meantime, Tensley’s 2015 main label wines have been racking up early scores clustered in the rarefied 93- to 97-point range.

Staying the course would have been perfectly legitimate, considering what Joey Tensley has achieved since founding Tensley Wines in 1998. He has placed his Rhône-style wines in Wine Spectator’s Top 20, had one named a “Top Syrah in America over $20” by Food & Wine, and brushed up against perfection with 99-point scores from Robert Parker and Rhône expert Jeb Dunnuck. But a new concept began to take hold in Tensley’s mind several years ago. As he traveled with his wife Jennifer throughout the world’s wine regions, Joey discovered a desire beyond producing great wine.

That desire was to shed the exclusivity factor that marks Tensley’s wines, while maintaining the quality implied in Robert Parker’s praise of his “high-end, super-duper wines.” To achieve this, Joey is going beyond the Santa Barbara sources that supply his flagship Syrahs and blends, and leaning on like-minded Central Coast growers. Starting with the 2015 vintage, Tensley’s mission to live up to his celebrated Rhône-style wines at everyday prices will be under the banner of Joey Tensley Wines. We have one very basic, “fundamental” suggestion — get in now ahead of the wait-list.