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. — 11 hours ago

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. — 3 months ago

Stuart Pollack

9.0

Too strong and astringent. It gets better with air but not enough. — 6 months ago

Tegan Marriott

8.9

Santa Barbara highlands radiance in a glass! Yo, I'll pretend I'm rolling through da Wine Ghetto! — 7 months ago

Louis Martin

9.1

Plum, smoky, hint of tobacco, smooth and creamy texture, pairs well with red sauce pasta. — 3 years ago

Chris

9.4

Foxen 2018 Cabernet. Hyper-decanted — 3 years ago

with Beth

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. — 11 hours ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.3

Super tropical, mangos, touch pineapple and grass, no pyrazine grapefruit. Well done! — 3 months ago

Ted

9.1

Herbs, cinnamon and hints of incense. Light color. Pretty damn good. — 5 months ago

with Jeni

Freddy R. Troya

9.2

Tensley – Syrah – 2023
Colson Canyon Vineyard – Santa Barbara County – USA 🇺🇸

Overview
100% Syrah from the high-elevation Colson Canyon Vineyard, a benchmark site that consistently delivers powerful yet balanced fruit. This vintage shows tension between ripeness, structure, and freshness.

Aromas & Flavors
Black cherry, blackberry, cracked pepper, violet, licorice, and a subtle smoky undertone. Dark, spicy, and focused.

Mouthfeel
Medium-plus body with sleek acidity and fine, integrated tannins. Concentrated but not heavy, with a long, peppery finish that lingers.

Food Pairings
Grilled lamb, beef skewers, duck confit, pepper-crusted steak, or roasted mushrooms.

Verdict
A balanced, expressive Syrah with depth, spice, and length – a great example of why Santa Barbara continues to challenge the top Rhône-style regions.

Did You Know?
Colson Canyon sits at nearly 1,500 ft elevation, producing small berries with thick skins, a key reason these Syrahs show intense color, aromatics, and age-worthy structure. — 7 months ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.4

Didn’t think much of it on day one, corked up and forgot about it with busy schedule.
Day 3 figured its time to dump, but tried a glass before hand, it was pretty good. I’m continuously surprised by this winery — 3 years ago

Neil Valenzuela

8.9

Tighter than a Nun’s… Medium ruby color. Aromas of cherry, cranberry and oak. A little high alcohol concentration at first. Needs to open up a bit. Tasty red fruit with a oaky finish. — 3 years ago

Scot Walker

9.2

Dark fruit in the nose with dark plums, blackberry and crème de cassis in the palate. Paired well with both Gouda and a spicy ham. — a month ago

JKT

9.1

Nicely balanced as noted except with more age, beautiful ripe floral grapefruit nose and lovely lively palate and texture — 3 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Pale lemon color with stone and tropical fruit aromas and citrus floral notes adding an earthy spice from 10 months surlie aging. On the palate flavors of apple, pineapple and lemon citrus with floral and baking spice. Lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, citrus and earthy spice. — 3 months ago

Jeremiah Diaz

9.4

Clear, pale ruby in color; on the nose, it's clean with medium intensity primary and secondary aromas of raspberries, pomegranates, and cloves; on the palate, it's dry with high acidity, low tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, and pronounced intensity primary and secondary flavors of cherries, cranberries, dried leaves, and hibiscus with a long finish. This wine is complex and balanced. Overall, I rate this wine as very good. Nellie likes it too. — 4 months ago

with Nellie

Chris MacLean

9.1

Another good bottle of this $25 favorite — 9 months ago

with Sarah

Ericsson

9.3

This is a layered narrative of dark fruits, a dash of black pepper, and that unmistakable hint of smoky earth. And undeniably funky. It’s not just about boldness; it’s about a refined grit, a raw elegance that speaks of rugged vineyards and uncompromising craftsmanship. — a year ago

Paul T, Missing My Beautiful Wife 24/7

9.6

Still don’t know why this tastes like a 2010 Bordeaux, but I’ll take it. Nice bottle of wine despite the short cork, c’mon spend some money on your corks. — 3 years ago

Martijn

9.0

Nice round glass of wine. Nothing overdone but everything present: lime, apple, tropical notes, wood. — 4 years ago