Wines of the Week: 
2019 Tensley Wines Colson Canyon Vineyard Santa Barbara County Syrah Normally $47.99–$40.79 15% Off This Week ONLY! 2016 Storm Ridge Hemel-en-Aarde South Africa Pinot Noir Normally $59.99–$50.99 15% Off This Week ONLY! * * * About the Wines of the Week: 2019 Tensley Wines Colson Canyon Vineyard Santa Barbara County Syrah Normally $47.99–$40.79 15% Off This Week ONLY!   About the Winery In 1998 Joey Tensley launched Tensley Wines with one hundred cases and one single goal – to start a well-priced, Syrah-driven brand that let the unique vineyards of Santa Barbara County speak for themselves. Today, Tensley is a 5,000 case-a-year business with Syrah’s that have made the Wine Spectator’s Top 100, scored 99 points with Robert Parker, and won Food and Wine Magazine’s award for the “Top Syrah in America over $20.” Joey’s first experience with wine took place when he was just twelve-years-old and his soccer team toured a winery while taking part in a tournament in France. Joey vividly recalls the chill of the old caves and the aromas of wines fermenting in barrel. From that moment on he knew he wanted to be a winemaker. “Which pretty much made me the only kid in Bakersfield with that particular dream,” Joey says. Ten years later, in 1993, Joey got his start in the wine business working as a “cellar rat” for Fess Parker Winery in Santa Barbara County. After only three years he became the assistant winemaker at Babcock Vineyards. While there Joey came to appreciate the importance of the vineyard and the grower. He also came to appreciate the uniqueness of Santa Barbara County as a growing region. “We’re one of the only places in the world with a mountain range that runs east-west. That gives us many different, unique microclimates, so a Syrah grown in one place is so different from a Syrah grown in another. It’s an exciting place to make wine.” In 1998 Joey moved on to become the assistant winemaker at Beckmen Vineyards where he was offered space to make his own label. At Beckmen he developed his love for Rhône varietals and decided Tensley would produce only Rhône varietals and only source from Santa Barbara County. In 2002, Joey met his future wife, Jennifer. They were both working in the wine business. Within a year they were partners in business and life. Son, Oliver, was born in 2003. 
About the Wine “As many of our members and supporters know, purchasing Colson Canyon Vineyard in 2016 was an absolute dream come true. Colson has been part of the Tensley line-up since 2000 and has been a real shining star, consistently showing intensity and power. This year’s Colson is elegant, showing perfumed notes of violets on the nose but it also packs a punch with its smoked meat notes, deep purple fruits and notes of graphite and pepper. The light touch of new oak balances the chocolate of the wine with notes of vanilla. This wine is rich and approachable now. It can also age beautifully over the next 12 years.”–Tensley Wines 
Critical Acclaim “A more elegant, perfumed, floral wine from this site, the 2019 Syrah Colson Canyon offers Côte Rôtie-like black raspberry, violets, spring flowers, and gamey, meat-driven aromatics. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully textured, with a kiss of background oak, it's going to show nicely right out of the gate yet also have two decades of longevity.”–94-96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck * * * 2016 Storm Ridge Hemel-en-Aarde South Africa Pinot Noir Normally $59.99–$50.99 15% Off This Week ONLY!  
About the Winery After working intimately with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay for 12 vintages in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley (“Heaven-and-Earth” in Afrikaans), Hannes Storm discovered two tiny parcels of land with particularly exceptional terroirs. The two vineyards were planted in 2008. Storm’s maiden vintage saw the light in 2012 and, after spending 18 months in bottle, the wines were released in 2014. In 2009, the Hemel-en-Aarde was divided into three separate wards—the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley and the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Storm Vrede Pinot Noir and Vrede Chardonnay are from vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley. The Storm Ignis Pinot Noir comes from a vineyard in the Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, and Storm Ridge Pinot Noir is from a vineyard in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge. Storm Wines is currently the only producer with Pinot Noirs from each of the three appellations in the Hemel-en-Aarde. With meticulous viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar and a constant nod to the Old World, Hannes Storm creates wines with a warm personality and character. 
About the Wine Hemel-en-Aarde has a maritime climate. Influenced by the cool Atlantic Ocean, it is considered an exceptional cool-climate wine growing region. The prevailing summer wind (the Southeaster) is a moderating influence, as is the Benguela Current, which flows up from Antarctica. A higher rainfall average than the rest of the Cape’s wine regions makes a significant difference in drought years. The vineyards of the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge are high in elevation and established on clay-rich, Bokkeveld shale-derived soils. Storm strives to steer the purest characteristics of this particular vineyard site towards bottle and cork. This wine shows richness and generosity with black cherry and spice with a saline undertone. Silky tannins complement the voluptuous, dark fruit perfume. With poise and elegance this wine shows its homage with nodes of spicy notes, a characteristic of the cool slope’s low-vigour, stony, clay-rich shale soil. 
Critical Acclaim “The 2016 Ridge Pinot Noir comes from vines located at 325 meters, the highest that Hannes Storm farms, east-facing with a prevailing southeasterly wind that creates a cooler site and longer hangtime. It was matured in 25% new oak for 11 months. It is more youthful in appearance compared to the Ignis, the nose very cohesive with black cherry, raspberry preserve, crushed stone and light wilted rose petal aromas. The fresh, poised palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity and perhaps the edgiest tannins of Storm’s 2016s. Long with a touch of spice on the finish, this is an excellent Pinot Noir. It’s a shame only 250 cases were produced. Drink Date: 2019-2028”–Neal Martin, Vinous * * * Cocktail Recipe of the Week: 
Strawberry Gin Smash Ingredients: 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 limes, juiced (about 1/4 cup)
1 pound fresh strawberries
2 cups Bertha's Small Batch Irish Gin
3 cups club soda
Fresh mint sprigs, for garnish Directions: Muddle the sugar and limes in a pitcher that holds at least 8 cups (64 ounces). Set aside 6 to 8 small strawberries and make a small slice in their tips. Hull and slice the remaining strawberries and muddle the slices lightly with the sugar and lime juice. Stir in the gin and club soda and pack the pitcher full of ice. Add mint sprigs to garnish. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish with a strawberry, slotted onto the edge of the glass. Serves 8. Cheers and Enjoy! * * * Snack of the Week: 
Delice de Bourgogne A tribute to small scale industrial French cheese-making, Murray's Delice is produced by Fromagerie Lincet. The pasteurized triple creme (75% butterfat in dry matter) marries full-fat cow milk with fresh cream, producing an unapologetically rich, whipped delight. Unlike many straightforward triple-cremes, this one has a thin, pungent mold rind that imparts straw and mushroom aromas, complementing the buttery yellow, sweet cream interior. Makes a dreamy breakfast, lunch or dessert - just add champagne! * * * A Note on the COVID Resurgence
With the recent resurgence of COVID-19, the team at TFW wants to provide a safe and sanitary environment and ease everybody's concerns. We are asking our clients to show caution and follow CDC guidelines as the virus rears its ugly head once again. In such, please wear masks or face shields when entering the shoppe. Thank you for the understanding and support.
We have implemented the utmost precautionary measures in observance of notices by the CDC. These measures include: Max. 4 Clients inside A clean and dirty pen policy A sanitation station for your use as you enter and exit the shoppe Online / Phone Ordering 6 ft. delineation markers in the shoppe Curbside Pick-Up Deliveries ($300 order complimentary local delivery) Facemasks required by all team members and clients Continuously sanitizing and disinfecting We strongly encourage our clients to utilize curbside pickup, delivery, and pre-ordering during these times. You can do so by calling, emailing, or ordering through our website: (908)-439-0007 / andrea@tewksburyfinewine.com / www.tewksburyfinewine.com We hope you are all staying safe, healthy, and happy during these trying times. Do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns! | 
