Tensley Chardonnay Fundamental Central Coast 2022 750ml

By the barbecue, at the dinner table, or at a party, there’s likely a happy Wine Access member sipping and sharing a bottle of Joey Tensley’s Fundamental right now. Because ever since the 100-point winemaker set his sights on delivering impeccable Central Coast quality for well under $20, our members have bought his wines by the truckload and made them their every-night pour.

This 2022 Fundamental White is one of the most remarkable values in California today—a no-compromise bottle that bursts with complexity you’d expect from a 100-point winemaker. A blend of Viognier with Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, and Roussanne, it brings beautiful brightness and  California generosity, which makes it a slam-dunk pairing with nearly any white-wine-friendly food…or just a balmy day and a pretty view.

We sipped this super-refreshing white during our last visit with Joey and his wife Jennifer. They told us about how their travels abroad, drinking top-notch and value-priced wines around the world, inspired them to create the Fundamental line. As the sun climbed high over their property in inland Santa Barbara County, the Fundamental’s rich mouthfeel, gorgeous aromatics, and clean mineral finish kept us reaching for sip after sip, and we were have been perfectly content whiling away the afternoon with a few more bottles.

The Rhône-inspired 2022 Fundamental White brings tons of citrusy aromatics and ripe fruit, along with a beautiful texture. Finishing with a refreshing touch of minerality, this wine will have you reaching for sip after sip, then bottle after bottle. So one warning: When you drink the Fundamental the way you should—with friends, without hesitation—it can disappear fast. Keep that in mind when you order.