Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
An excellent example of an artisan produced wine, the 2016 Desparada Fragrant Sauvignon Blanc is pure and expressive. The wine's dried citrus, stone fruits, and savory herbs exhibit true flavors of the grape. Its bright and lively finish pairs it well with raw oysters. (Tasted: April 17, 2017, San Francisco, CA)
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Wine Spectator
Succulent and refreshing, with perfectly ripe pear, melon, yellow apple and nectarine flavors that are accented with lemon thyme and celery seed notes. Elegant and smooth on the lingering finish. Drink now.
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.