Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Few moments in a lifetime of wines—discovering, tasting, researching and understanding—have I been so taken to a new place in time. I am not saying that this is the best wine in the world—I was just so fascinated by this wine and its story. Oh, and BTW, this is a pretty fine wine. The 2015 Desparada Fragment Sauvignon Blanc is taking this variety to a place where it has never been before. In the hands of winemaker Vailia, this highly pigmented wine of great concentration—showing ripe nectarine, dried peach skin and delicate citrus—could be one of most delicious and impressive ever in the new world. Pair this beauty with grilled, savory pork chops and you will see why I was so excited. Tasting pretty fine now. (Best Served: 2016-2020) [SOURCING: USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County; Vineyards: 43% McGinley, 32% Presquile, 22% Vogelzang] [COMPOSITION: 100% Sauvignon Blanc] [TECHNICAL: 14.9% alcohol, 744 cases produced] [WINEMAKING HIGHLIGHTS: Aging: 43% neutral French oak, 27% stainless, 15% new Acacia and 15% amphora] (Tasted: August 24, 2016, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Strikes a balance between the supple texture and vibrant acidity, offering melon and pear flavors and distinctive details of spice, honeysuckle and dried orange peel that linger on the finish.
Capable of a vast array of styles, Sauvignon Blanc is a crisp, refreshing variety that equally reflects both terroir and varietal character. Though it can vary depending on where it is grown, a couple of commonalities always exist—namely, zesty acidity and intense aromatics. This variety is of French provenance. Somm Secret—Along with Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc is a proud parent of Cabernet Sauvignon. That green bell pepper aroma that all three varieties share is no coincidence—it comes from a high concentration of pyrazines (herbaceous aromatic compounds) inherent to each member of the family.
With a dry and mild climate cooled significantly by moist ocean fog and breezes, Santa Barbara County is a grape-grower’s dream. Part of the larger Central Coast appellation, Santa Barbara is home to Santa Maria Valley and Santa Ynez Valley. The conditions here provide an opportunity for nearly effortless production of high-quality cool-climate Central Coast wines. This is also the site of the 2004 film Sideways, which caused Pinot Noir’s popularity to skyrocket and brought new acclaim to the region.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are the stars of Santa Barbara, producing wines marked by racy acidity. Crisp Sauvignon Blanc and savory Syrah are also important. The region is home to many young and enthusiastic winemakers eager to experiment with less common varieties including Chenin Blanc, Grüner Veltliner, Trousseau Gris, Gamay and Cabernet Franc, making it an exciting area to watch.