2021 Tensley Marsanne Laird Vineyard Santa Barbara County 750 ml

Joey Tensley’s wines are an obsession at Wine Access. The 100-point winemaker’s blockbuster bottles absolutely crush the member-ratings with their off-the-charts quality and rock-steady consistency—but while the reds make the headlines, his 2021 Laird Vineyard Marsanne is making some waves.

A relative newcomer to the Tensley lineup—he’s only made it two times so far—it’s the only white wine bearing the Tensley label, and it is a stunner. Like its counterparts in the Northern Rhône, it’s rich, deep, and textured, with aromatics of white peach, roasted nuts, and pear. It’s full on the palate, balancing its generous mouthfeel with a kiss of acidity that elevates it, carrying everything through to a long finish.

Joey’s a longtime friend of ours—we’ve been offering his wines since 2009—so we’re not surprised at the critical acclaim he’s consistently received over the years. His Rhône-style wines have garnered huge praise from Wine Advocate, which said that he’s "flirted with perfection" with "high-end, super-duper wines" that commonly land mid-90s scores.

Thanks to his two decades on the Central Coast, he’s gotten access to prime vineyard sources, including the Laird Vineyard in Santa Barbara. Located on the southern plateau above the Santa Maria Valley, its cool climate and free-draining sandy soils help produce grapes with a beautiful balance of concentration and acidity.

Marsanne is a rarity in California, and Joey’s is a phenomenal introduction to the grape. He suggests you pair it with freshly shucked oysters, and while we heartily agree, it also goes great with lobster, Thai food, or a round of Brillat-Savarin.