Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Margerum – M5 2024, Grenache Blend – Santa Barbara County, California, USA 🇺🇸

Overview
Inspired by the classic Southern Rhône blends, M5 is Margerum’s vibrant interpretation of Grenache-based reds. The 2024 vintage combines 40% Grenache, 35% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre, 7% Counoise, and 6% Cinsault, delivering a wine crafted for youthful enjoyment, emphasizing freshness, purity, and drinkability over power or long-term aging.

Aromas & Flavors
Bright red cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry, cranberry, dried herbs, white pepper, and a touch of lavender unfold from the glass. The palate is juicy and energetic, highlighting crunchy red fruit with subtle spice and a savory finish.

Mouthfeel
Light to medium-bodied with vibrant acidity, silky texture, and barely noticeable tannins. Exceptionally smooth and mouthwatering, it leaves a long, cherry-driven finish that coats the palate without feeling heavy.

Food Pairings
Serve slightly chilled alongside charcuterie, grilled sausages, roast chicken, wood-fired pizza, tuna steaks, salmon, tacos, or Mediterranean cuisine.

Verdict
A beautifully crafted chillable red that perfectly captures the joy of Rhône-inspired blending. Fresh, balanced, and incredibly approachable, it is equally capable of pleasing casual wine drinkers and seasoned enthusiasts alike.

Did You Know?
The name M5 stands for “Five Grapes, One Wine,” referring to its blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Cinsault. While inspired by the Southern Rhône, Doug Margerum designed M5 to celebrate the freshness and coastal character of Santa Barbara rather than replicate the richer styles of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of red I love recommending when someone says they “don’t want anything too heavy.” Serve it with a slight chill, and it becomes one of the most versatile bottles around, fresh, vibrant, endlessly drinkable, and a reminder that serious winemaking doesn’t always have to take itself so seriously. One of Santa Barbara’s most joyful red blends. — 2 days ago

Seth Masterson

9.0

Santa Barbara. Fresh fruit and light minerality on the nose. Very little alcohol coming across too (~12%)
Flavors are subtle too, good balance of sweet to acidic. Think of freshly picked ripe Meyer lemons. Slight effervescence from some natural post bottling fermentation? It really opened up after a few hours and even overnight, mellowing the acidity a bit and bringing forward an impression of sun shriveled fruits.
Bottlesomm on sale for $26. I think at that price it's spot on: 9.0 /$.
I would love to try some other vintages. — 5 years ago

Amanda Burton

9.3

I like this. Would buy again! — 5 years ago

Chris Anton

9.1

Fantastic Syrah. Warm, with notes of blackberry and red grapes.... — 7 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Doug Margerum founded MWC in 2001, producing limited quantities of Rhône grape varietal wines.100% Viognier from 2 vineyards, aged for 8 months in neutral French oak barrels, with a small portion undergoing malolactic fermentation. Light straw with aromas of tropical fruits with hints of honey notes and sweet spice. On the palate ripe peach, apple and melon flavors with subtle notes of vanilla, well balance with acidity. Smooth lingering finish ending with a little minerality. Very nice! Tasting Sample! — 7 years ago

JKT

9.0

Opened 7/27/18 agave Mexican place dinner with Cindy Bao and David. Paired perfectly with octopus appetizer. Also good with fish dish. — 8 years ago

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. — 2 days ago

Austin Moberg

9.0

My first Picpoul Blanc wine. Smelled Mellon and stone fruit and tasted fresh citrus up front with a plesent lemony finish — 3 years ago

Dave Minkel

8.9

Nice blend, a tad tart but in a good way — 5 years ago

Kathryn McCarty

9.1

Lovely, well balanced! Subdued fruit notes. Great blend of 3 white grapes! Lush and silky! Lovely! — 6 years ago

Matt Sterr

9.1

Fusel Oil nose. Great nose. Bright and tangy, tropical Pez. Nice acid. Light RS. — 7 years ago

David L

9.3

2008- 10 Margerum Muilt- Vintage Syrah. Black raspberry, black cherry, a puff of smoke comes through this seamlessly peppered mix. Showing a touch of mineral. Long elegant finish.
This label rarely disappoints me. Price is right also. — 8 years ago

Eric Urbani

9.0

Nice blend! White Grenache ++ — 9 months ago

Matthew Cohen

9.2

14.5%

N: lovely. Lilacs.

P: savory. Elegant blackberries. Spice. Delicious. Juicy. Great acidity. — 2 years ago

Mark Magnuson

9.3

We drank the 2022 vintage and it’s delicious! Beaujolais like with red fruit notes and aromatic notes on a hot day in summer. Time to buy some more. :-) — 2 years ago

Debra Copeland, WSET3, CSWS

9.0

Delicate colour, light and dry on the palate. A perfect poolside wine — 5 years ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.0

It was funny but I was debating whether to buy this wine or the Ridge #Grenacheblanc and when I looked at @Delectable Wine it would seem that the Ridge wine sources their fruit from these vineyards? The price was about $5 less for this wine and people seem to like it equally or more on Delectable. I enjoyed it. I tasted it side by side with the Margerum M5 Grenache Blanc blend and I personally prefer the Margerum which I found crunchier, more lively aromátics. I believe this wine should be drink in its youth, I didn’t see any room for positive development. — 5 years ago

with Rosario

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Chardonnay from 3 vineyards in Sta. Rita Hills AVA, barrel fermented in 55-degree winery, and aged for 10 months in French oak (72% new), light sunshine yellow with aromas of stone and tropical fruits with citrus notes. On the palate subtle fruit flavors of apple, pear and citrus, complex, with crisp acidity and oak that just kisses the wine, not overdone. Soft texture, good rich mouthfeel, lingering, well balanced ending with earthy minerality. Small production about 230 cases. Very Nice! Tasting Sample! — 7 years ago

Doug Margerum

9.7

Still young but cellared perfectly for 16 years. An amazing wine. — 8 years ago

Amanda Burton

9.3

Ditched the Ruffino for this. It’s much better. — 8 years ago