Lea (Tensley) Pinot Noir

Garnet color with transparency. Aromas of dark red fruits, smoke, lemon, orange peel, and dry spice drawer. Medium (+) body and acid, medium finish, and flavors of dark and dark red fruits, lemon, orange, and spice. Pretty good and drinking well now. I'm not getting any heat on this like the previous review, and I tend to be fairly sensitive to that; I do get lingering spice though.

2013 vintage

As before, tasty but alcohol is front and center.

2013 vintage

This has evolved greatly, very enjoyable from start to finish. Soft ripe fruit with dithering tannins, and a plush finish. Drink now.

2013 vintage

as before

2013 vintage

Was hoping a few years would tame the alcohol. It didn't. Loads of ripe fruit and spices and even more loads of alcohol.

2013 vintage

Penetrating nose. Deep spice, black cherry and plum goes on forever without any heaviness, dryness, or fatigue. Tremendous value, some bottle variation. Won't improve, only change with little upside. Drink now or in next 2-3 yrs.

2013 vintage

My last bottle of Lea was the best bottle. Mature, finessed, and fabulous.

2013 vintage

Nice Pinot. Classic SRH. Nicely balanced and drinking well here.

2013 vintage

At the initial pop and pour, the wine was borderline undrinkable. The nose and palate were completely "off". After giving the wine a couple of days to breath (still in bottle but no cork), the funk disappeared and the resulting wine was drinkable but muted (due in part to the amount of O2 introduced).

2013 vintage

Lea is lovely in every sip, in every way.

2013 vintage

Held out on this for a bit. One hour decant. Subtle aromas of fig,mushroom, sassafras, licorice and cherry. Flavors of cherry, raspberry,earthy mushroom and touch of ripe plum. Ends with a nice spicy blackberry infused 20 second finish.

2013 vintage

A little big for my tastes when I’m reaching for a Pinot. If I step back and just think about the enjoyment, not terrible. Just....a lot.

2013 vintage

This was a great find. I bought it on a lark, mostly because I like Tensley wines. On opening, this was red going on brown -- basically garnet colored. The nose was not that expressive. But the flavor profile was incredibly complex over two nights of drinking. Will buy again.

2013 vintage

Considerably lighter in color than previous bottles - see through ruby with no darkening after being opened for 3 days. The nose features raspberry fruit, but with less intensity and concentration than previous bottles. The sip has an unexpected alcoholic heat. Decently enjoyable, but lacks the richness and lushness I expected to find in a Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir.

2013 vintage

Eric and Sue had this in Virginia and they loved it.

2013 vintage

Tasty. Good with bbq food.

2013 vintage

Gobs of cinnamon, cedar, and orange peel on the nose with the pine and citrus notes intertwining with ripe strawbery, cherry and decomposing green grass on the palate. Drank side-by-side with a 2014 Lea Roblar and this is preferred. 11.20.2015: Whiffs of stable, forest floor, red fruits and rhubarb complement bountiful ripe cherries, tobacco, toast crumbs and spice on the palate. This is delicious and leaned a bit more toward a Burgundian style than typical, ripe fruit-centric Santa Rita, PNs. …

2013 vintage

Greater complexity of flavor than most. Peppery.

2013 vintage

Some good fruit but a little tannic, too. I like this wine paired wit Mamoun's and/or lamb better than on its own or with other food. Drink now or hold

2013 vintage

Dinner and Wine at Olga's (Princeton, NJ) : Well, it IS hard to follow Rochiolli fruit-especially if you are a pinot noir. This is a great example of Santa Rita PN fruit, with dark red fruit (cherry, blackberries), earth, spice and some tannins. It was good with the baked chicken with diced potatoes and cheese ( cheddar, asadero, monteray jack) and even better with the truffle mousse (pork and chicken). This has time. Great buy on close-out ($14-$20) against its …

2013 vintage

Earth and dark fruit nose, also showing some sweet oak. Sharp blueberry, plum, strawberry. A big bunch of acidity with some bite to hold it together. The finish shows good length.

2013 vintage

Solid QPR. Great California Pinot.

2013 vintage

Opened with dinner (second bottle) . Red fruit and flowers on the nose. On the palate, good acidity (maybe too much) but the finish stops mid-palate. After an hour, some of the acidity has dropped off and the finish is more prolonged.

2013 vintage

Needs a hour decant and it's good to go.

2013 vintage

Tasty wine with good red fruit and some earth and mushrooms. An especially good pairing with the Mamoun's lamb and chicken.

2013 vintage

Medium ruby, nice rather floral nose. Very supple, elegant Pinot. Quite nice

2013 vintage

2015 New York Wine Experience Trip; 10/19/2015-10/27/2015 (New York City, NY) : Feminine in style, this medium ruby Pinot flaunts white flower, cherry, raspberry and cola aromas. Light-to-medium-bodied, fresh and with light sweet tannins, it delivers cherry, cocoa, spice and earth flavors. The wine's alcohol is nicely integrated, as is its oak. Although it thins a bit in the middle, the resurrected finish is of medium length. There is a lot to like about this delicate Pinot, but the lack …

2013 vintage

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Lea (Tensley) Pinot Noir

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