Pink grapefruit, fresh green grass, pulpy passionfruit. Lime wedge, whole nutmeg, ripe mango. Citrus blossom and honeysuckle, mint leaf and crushed clove. A juicy pear and pineapple spread laid out on gravel beneath a lazy willow tree. Medium in body with good acidity presenting a clean & focused mineral attack. This 2016 Vogelzang Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc by Pegasus Estate Winery is an outstanding Happy Canyon white.

The Happy Canyon sub-appellation of Santa Barbara County is known for its success in growing Bordeaux varietals, and this is not just limited to dark-skinned grapes. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon both do tremendously well in this warm pocket of an otherwise relatively cool growing region. This bottling, crafted using fruit from the Vogelzang Vineyard in Happy Canyon, is one of the best Sauvignon Blancs from Santa Barbara we have experienced. It certainly expresses ripe and tropical tones yet it is primarily driven by citrus and mineral notes. Balance here is paramount and no facet of this wine comes off as overwhelming in any way, which can so often be a problem for this varietal. Think of this multi-dimensional wine as sitting somewhere in between Napa and Marlborough with a little bit of gravely Bordeaux flair. Winemaker Ken Brown might be know for his Pinot Noir, but he absolutely crushed this poised and refreshing Happy Canyon Sauv Blanc.