Winemaker Notes
M5 is Margerum's Flagship wine. It is modeled after top wines from southern Rhone – Châteauneuf-du-Pape . The M is for Margerum & the 5 is for 5 grapes: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, and Counoise. M5 is a Grenache based blend & has elegance and layers making it a versatile table and food wine. The overlying presence of Grenache flavors initially impacts the palate, followed by a finish complete with hints of jam, cocoa and dark berry contributions of Syrah and earthy Mourvèdre. It’s a "go to" wine since it drinks well with every occasion and almost every type of cuisine.
Blend: 49% Grenache, 31% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Counoise, 5% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This annual blend is truly a benchmark for Grenache-based Rhône blends from California. This vintage’s mix of 49% Grenache, 31% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Counoise and 5% Cinsault offers aromas of dark raspberry, rose petal, cinnamon, sumac and dried meat on the nose. The acid- washed, delicately tannic palate is fresh, with currant and raspberry, yet loaded with oregano, dried flower and more game flavors.
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Wine Spectator
A zesty blend with genuine personality, this red offers an array of cherry, cranberry, licorice and lavender accents that finish with snappy tannins.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the reds, the 2020 M5 checks in as a blend of 49% Grenache, 31% Syrah, and the remainder Mourvèdre, Counoise, and Cinsault. It offers bright darker berry and cherry fruits as well as notes of ground pepper and leafy herbs. Balanced and medium-bodied, with good concentration as well as freshness.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
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.