Freddy R. Troya

9.2

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. — 13 days ago

Steve Mitchell

9.2

Drink now or cellar. This is an elegant, velvety, Pinot that never disappoints. — 2 months ago

Magnus Hovet

9.2

Really smooth. A lot more dark plums, and softer tannins. Earthiness, small amount of spice and looong aftertaste — 3 months ago

KA

9.4

Lonesome Dove — 4 months ago

Ryan Colthorp

9.0

Super dark. Cocoa and baking spice on the nose. Plum. Stewed fruits. — 5 months ago

Brian S

9.2

Holding very well, still has some legs but fruit is waning. — 7 months ago

Mark Mannebach

9.2

Complex SB from NZ. Cucumber veggie notes with minerality such as flint etc — 9 months ago

Matt Waring

8.9

Nice Syrah, if inconsistent. One sip lasts for days, the next is short. But on the whole, juicy and plush, with blackberry, plum, and candied orange — 2 days ago

Yosuke Sato

9.2

LAで飲んだシャルドネ
すっきり爽やか — 12 days ago

Big Wave Dave

9.6

Outstanding block 5. Much more concentration and power than precious vintages. Strawberry, raspberry, pepper, wood spice. The power of the very best from Central Otago but with an elegance.
Really great pinot.
— a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Hopefully Delectable will allow me to write a complete note. Here we go ….
Dark Ruby with a crimson rim. Closed on the nose initially. Straight from the bottle - should have decanted it. Rich on the palate. Latent power with much to give. Dark cherry with dried herbs still to come with further cellaring. This is the first of 5 bottles. In the early days Block 3 was the undisputed best Pinot in NZ but now Block 5 is considered along with other contenders from around NZ. Have the next one in a year. Many good judges think this is the best ever Block 3 up to this point. — 3 months ago

Jason Keefer

9.2

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

with Natasha

Conrad Green

9.3

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

with Peter, Gregg and 1 other

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

2023 vintage. Banging, as usual, for the price and goes far beyond. 6.24.26. — 20 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.3

Unmistakably Central Otago to my palate. Red plums and raspberries. 20% of the grapes were whole bunch. Also aged in 27% new oak. I must mention Neil Martin’s famous Quote, “ Whenever there is a tasting designed to challenge the supremacy of Burgundy, it is usually Felton Road that is ushered into the ring”. Very much on allocation these days and can be difficult to source. — a month ago

Paul J

9.6

First Rose of the season! Always great! See previous notes and vintages. — 3 months ago

with Brooke and

Matthew Cohen

9.4

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

Chris Blanchard

9.1

2023 vintage - it opened brighter than expected with bold ripe flavors and more fruit forward than expected. It was a nice surprise. After 30 minutes the flavors balanced a bit and tasted less bright and fruity and more balanced. The wife and I enjoyed the bottle. — 6 months ago

Raul Puga

9.4

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

Ray Vanderhoff

9.2

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