Winemaker Notes
This 2022 bottling is their 25th from the same rows of vines at McGinley Vineyard. It’s a flashy and outward wine, full of sunny character and loudly aromatic. The nose gives a wash of citrus blossoms, passionfruit and crunchy Asian pear, along with McGinley’s typical gravelly minerality. Initially the textures are rounded and succulent like juicy stone-fruits, then the wine steps on the gas with a zesty blast of citrus, mint and tingly minerality.
It’s an invigorating aperitif, but their Sauvignon Blanc is super food friendly; it complements 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
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Wine Enthusiast
Subtle aromas of lime peel and Pink Lady apple flesh draw the nose into this bottling. Delicate apple and citrus flavors converge on the palate, which is tightly woven in texture.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Bright and refreshing, with pink grapefruit, honeyed flowers, and some chalky mineral notes, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc McGinley Vineyard is another impeccably made white from this team that's medium-bodied, has a clean, elegant, lively mouthfeel, bright acidity, and a great finish. It's slightly simpler and more up-front than the Presqu'ile Vineyard and best drunk in its first 2-3 years (although I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see it keep longer).
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.