Bell Canyon Cellars

Margerum

Sybarite Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc

Margerum Sybarite Sauvignon Blanc 2024
Sauvignon Blanc – Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara AVA, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Crafted from Margerum’s top Sauvignon Blanc vineyard sources in Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara, Sybarite is a more textural and layered interpretation of the variety. Rather than emphasizing overt tropical fruit, it focuses on elegance, persistence, and a refined sense of place.

Aromas & Flavors
Lemon zest, white peach, grapefruit, subtle melon, fresh herbs, and delicate floral notes unfold over a beautifully mineral core with hints of citrus peel and wet stone.

Mouthfeel
Silky and beautifully balanced with gentle acidity, remarkable texture, and a graceful, lingering finish. Precision and finesse take center stage rather than sheer intensity.

Food Pairings
Halibut, grilled sea bass, Dungeness crab, oysters, sushi, roasted chicken, fresh goat cheese, or creamy seafood risotto.

Verdict
An elegant, terroir-driven Sauvignon Blanc that favors balance and sophistication over exuberance. Complex, expressive, and a wonderful reminder of the remarkable quality emerging from Santa Barbara.

Did You Know?
A previous vintage of Margerum Sybarite Sauvignon Blanc was selected to accompany the blue crab course at a White House State Dinner hosted by President Barack Obama in honor of Singapore’s Prime Minister in 2016—a testament to the wine’s refinement and food-pairing versatility.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is one of those Sauvignon Blancs that quietly changes expectations. It isn’t driven by punchy acidity or explosive tropical fruit—instead, its elegance, texture, and remarkably delicate finish make it one of the finest American expressions of the variety I’ve tasted. Another compelling reason why Santa Barbara continues to impress me as one of California’s great wine regions.
— 10 days ago

Bob, Ted and 1 other liked this

Jonata Winery

La Sangre de Jonata Ballard Canyon Syrah 2015

KA
9.4

Lonesome Dove — 3 months ago

Andrew, Dave and 2 others liked this

Jonata Winery

Todos Ballard Canyon Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Great blend with literally the kitchen sink of varietals (10!). Haven’t had their more pricy cuvées but if this is any indication, they knock it out of the park! Side note, gorgeous tasting room. @Ryan Colthorp came visit for a wine trip! — 6 months ago

Natasha Bray
with Natasha

Jonata Winery

El Alma de Jonata Ballard Canyon Cabernet Franc Blend 2011

Dark peppery fruit. Lush with black cherry. Good balance. Delicious — 8 months ago

Peter NelsonGregg GRick K
with Peter, Gregg and 1 other
Matt, Jan and 4 others liked this

Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

Pauillac Red Bordeaux Blend 1989

1989 vintage. WOTD! Funky, old grandparents nose for a spell, then blew off. Still a bit of the feminine (blueberries, raspberries, cocoa powder) characteristics evident. Better than the last bottle tasted (4.4.23 a 9.4) but not as good as another fairly recently (12.9.22 a 9.6). Still pretty damned delicious and still at the top of the bell curve for another half-decade or so. Hit. It. Now. Ain’t getting better. 5.5.23. — 3 years ago

Jan, Bob and 14 others liked this
Severn G

Severn G Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Very nice!

Olga Raffault

Les Picasses Chinon Cabernet Franc 1989

This was in its prime, interesting nose with notes of dark fruits, berry, currant, leather, brambly, earth, animal, bell pepper & tobacco. — 5 years ago

Aravind, Severn and 8 others liked this
Aravind A

Aravind A Premium Badge

Fantastic pull.

Bell Hill Vineyards

Canterbury Pinot Noir 2016

Very pale crimson - almost transparent. Aromas of red cherry and violets. Like many good Pinots pale in colour but M+ palate Intensity - an elegant wine finishing with fine tannins. Bell Hill produces some of the rarest and most sought after wines in New Zealand. I have visited all the major wine producing areas in New Zealand but I have never been to Canterbury - not far from Christchurch. — 3 days ago

Ming, Ira and 15 others liked this

Beckmen Vineyards

Purisima Mountain Vineyard Ballard Canyon Syrah 2021

John Howard
9.2

Big and rich. Nice tannins too. — 2 months ago

Tom, Doug and 10 others liked this

Dragonette Cellars

Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara Sauvignon Blanc 2024

N: white flowers. Hint gooseberry. Very elegant. So floral. Very distinctive

P: very interesting. Balanced. Juicy. Long. Amazing acidic balance.

*

Garber 25 16 btg.
— 4 months ago

Stolpman Vineyards

Angeli Ballard Canyon Syrah 2023

Very smooth good fruit with notes of pepper. Really enjoyed it — 8 months ago

Ted, Andrew and 1 other liked this

Stolpman Vineyards

Combe Ballard Canyon Trousseau 2022

Light garnet color. Very interesting nose and palate of red fruits, rose petals, dried herbs, black tea, bergamot and sweet baking spices. Hint of eucalyptus on the long, complex and earthy finish. Smooth tannins. Lively, bright and very well balanced. Nice concentration for a light bodied wine. Excellent! — 2 years ago

Paul, Tom and 1 other liked this

Stolpman Vineyards

Ballard Canyon Rosé Blend 2020

Delicious easy drinking rosé! — 5 years ago

Stolpman Vineyards

Estate Grown Ballard Canyon Syrah

2023 vintage. Banging, as usual, for the price and goes far beyond. 6.24.26. — 17 days ago

Shay, Austin and 10 others liked this
Norman

Norman Premium Badge

I like these guys but the fell off my radar.

Littorai

Mays Canyon Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2024

LAで飲んだシャルドネ
すっきり爽やか
— 9 days ago

Tensley

Colson Canyon Vineyard Syrah 2020

2020 vintage. 4 years after Delectable review, still quite primary but dropping sediment. Enjoyable but not 97 points. — 2 months ago

Jan, Shay and 2 others liked this

Dragonette Cellars

Vogelzang Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Super tropical, mangos, touch pineapple and grass, no pyrazine grapefruit. Well done! — 4 months ago

Scott@Mister, Zach and 1 other liked this

Littorai

Mays Canyon Pinot Noir 2017

Holding very well, still has some legs but fruit is waning. — 6 months ago

Ira, Bob and 7 others liked this

Rusack Vineyards

Ballard Canyon Estate Syrah 2019

Sweet oak, black and blue fruits, and finally some spice and structure from the dollop of Petite Sirah, solid balance, needs more cellaring to soften the structure, very good Central Coast Syrah! — a year ago

Jim Powers
with Jim
Ira, Bob and 4 others liked this

Liquid Farm

Vogelzang Vineyard Mourvedre Rosé 2019

Still our fave — 5 years ago

Eric, Shay and 25 others liked this