Margerum Sybarite Sauvignon Blanc 2020

Winery Price $24.50

Sale $19.99

93 pts Vinous / 92 pts Wine Enthusiast for 2019

2020 was the Year of Sauvignon Blanc… and 2021 shows no signs of letting up. For us, the challenge, then, is to find new and delicious Sauv Blancs. We haven’t abandoned the tried and true, but there are so many fabulous Sauvignon Blancs being made, we just have to offer them!

Case in point is this gem from Margerum, consistently one of the best coming out of California. It’s from the Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara. I won’t bore you with the details, but Happy Canyon has become the go-to address for world-class Sauvignon Blanc, thanks to its unique west-east orientation that funnels cool Pacific Ocean breezes across the valley. It’s still California, so ripeness is never an issue; the cooling breezes allow for a slow ripening and naturally high acidity. By picking grapes at different levels of ripeness, Margerum is able to craft a remarkably expressive yet balanced Sauvignon Blanc.

And Sybarite? As the winery explains, “The word SYBARITE is derived from Sybaris, an ancient Greek city in southeastern Italy noted for the luxurious, pleasure seeking behavior of many of its inhabitants. SYBARITES are people who have a fondness for sensuous luxury.”

Works for me!

Aromas of white flowers, lemon blossoms and peaches meld with flavors of melon, lime and lemongrass, all backed up by vibrant acidity. There’s a creamy mouthfeel thanks to a small portion of barrel-fermented juice. A little retained CO2 is intentionally kept to keep the wine fresh after opening and balance that creaminess. In short, this is one of the most thoughtful, balanced expressions of Sauvignon Blanc we have tasted all year!

“this always reliable white wine starts with aromas of pear soda, red apple and slightly tropical white and green flowers. The texture is taut and dry, with brisk flavors of red apple, seashell, lemongrass and a fast-fading flash of guava.” WE on 2019

“The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc Sybarite opens with a rush of citrus, floral and tomato leaf aromatics that lead into beautifully sculpted orchard fruit flavors. Here, too, Doug Margerum balances vivacity with depth. The Sybarite offers plenty of Sauvignon aromatics without veering into the green/grassy end of the spectrum.” VM


Or reply. The wine will be available tomorrow in both stores, as ordered.