Central Coast
Joey Tensley "Fundamental" Cabernet Sauvignon '21
The seed for becoming a winemaker may have been planted in Joey Tensley when he was 12 years old, during a soccer trip to Bordeaux, but it wasn’t until he was 22 that he started making wine, in 1993. He established his own Tensley brand in 1998, spending the next 20 years learning his craft with vintages in Chile, Argentina, Spain, and the Rhône Valley. He had a particular interest in Syrah and had started his own production in Santa Barbara with a focus on quality, affordable wines from Rhône varieties. He then expanded to producing not only Rhône blends but Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon under his Fundamental label, a name he felt reflected the brand’s philosophy—make fundamentally sound, straightforward wines that overdeliver for the price on every level.
His approach is simple, working with great fruit from the Central Coast and using a hands-off approach as much as possible in the winery, with minimum use of oak and sulphur. In 2016 he was able to purchase 16 acres of his only estate vineyard, Colson Canyon, northeast of Santa Barbara, and which lies above the all-important fog line.
The “Fundamental” Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced equally from Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County, each region contributing its particular qualities to the bottle. The climate and clay soils of Paso Robles bring power and richness, while the Santa Barbara County fruit, having grown in a cooler climate with sandier soils, keeps the wine fresh and balanced.
We very rarely find Cabernet Sauvignon at this price point and of this quality. This is one to stock up on!
His approach is simple, working with great fruit from the Central Coast and using a hands-off approach as much as possible in the winery, with minimum use of oak and sulphur. In 2016 he was able to purchase 16 acres of his only estate vineyard, Colson Canyon, northeast of Santa Barbara, and which lies above the all-important fog line.
The “Fundamental” Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced equally from Paso Robles and Santa Barbara County, each region contributing its particular qualities to the bottle. The climate and clay soils of Paso Robles bring power and richness, while the Santa Barbara County fruit, having grown in a cooler climate with sandier soils, keeps the wine fresh and balanced.
We very rarely find Cabernet Sauvignon at this price point and of this quality. This is one to stock up on!
Perman
USA
Details
| Producer | Joey Tensley |