Winemaker Notes
The aromas here are crisp, airy and expressive: there's that gravelly McGinley core, of course, along with evocative scents of honeydew, creamy lime and mint. A lot of that is echoed on the palate, which is crunchy and dynamic with Asian pear, minerals, and grapefruit.
It's in your face but incredibly food friendly, flattering the saltiness of fresh oysters or urchin, the tartness of goat cheese or labneh, and the direct earthiness of any fresh salad or humbly prepared vegetables.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Sauvignon Blanc McGinley is a downright pretty, elegant Sauvignon with classic crushed citrus, flowers, and some salty, rocky nuances in its medium-bodied profile. It’s beautifully balanced, has good mid-palate depth, and brings texture as well as freshness.
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.
Ranging from cool and foggy in the west to warm and dry in the east, the Santa Ynez Valley is a climatically diverse growing area. The most expansive AVA within the larger Santa Barbara County region, Santa Ynez is also home to a wide variety of soil types and geographical features. The appellation is further divided into four distinct sub-AVAs—Sta. Rita Hills, Ballard Canyon, Los Olivos District and Happy Canyon—each with its own defining characteristics.
A wide selection of grapes is planted here—more than sixty different varieties, and counting. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir dominate in the chilly west, while Zinfandel, Rhône blends, and Bordeaux blends rule the arid east. Syrah is successful at both ends of the valley, with a lean and peppery, Old-World sensibility closer to the coast and lush berry fruit further inland.