2020 Dragonette Cellars Sauvignon Blanc Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara

Community Tasting Notes (4) Avg Score: 90.4 points

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  7/24/2023 - JRockEsq Likes this wine:

  No notes, but probably the best bottle I've had of this yet as it's starting to take on interesting notes from age. Worth picking up some more of this if you can find it.

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  12/21/2022 - JRockEsq Likes this wine:

  Great wine and paired well with salmon + pesto.

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  6/24/2022 - WyattTheSomm Likes this wine: 91 Points

  This is a different animal than the 2019 where the wine was bright, refreshing, beautifully ripe and tropical. The 2020 is bigger and I would say more powerful in nature with less ripe fruit.
  
  Sight: medium straw with hint of light gold Color
  
  Nose: where 2019 was fresh mountain air this is concentrated, warmer and powerful with more oak influences 88% neutral French Vs 73% to be exact.
  I immediately noticed the sweet french Vanilla, cinnamon combo which was followed by a lovely Gardenia flower quality. Then the pure Dragonette fruits greets you but this time with green Cantaloupe Rind, Ripe Star Fruit with green ridges, and juicy white lemon flesh. I don’t find that Gooseberry , guava tropical nose here that I did in the 19’ but do pick up some grapefruit pith in the back ground of the 2020.
  
  Taste: Here we go! Definitely still has that electric mid-palate acidity but this wine is clearly rounder and fatter and for a split second came off as weighty in the mid-palate but then quickly corrects itself upon swallowing. Not quite as precise or as pure as the 19’ for sure this is more powerful, round, and smooth showcasing lots of juicy ripe yellow citrus that I have come to expect with this offering. I definitely perceived more of the oak and a slight spiciness of cinnamon but after another taste I find that tropical grapefruit and some minerals but noticeably less prominent here in the 2020.
  
  Overall: I see some big changes with this wine in 2020 more than likely due to a wild vintage and it shows within its DNA. 2020 had 47% Grimm’s Bluff (first time this vineyard is the leading blend) while 2019 had 60% Grassini and I think that shows a lot here with how the wines present themselves so different regardless of vintage (even thought the heat spike and 2020 is evident in The weight and alcohol here) as well as the oak treatment. I’m still a fan of the 2020 a beautifully concentrated wine nonetheless but I do prefer the purity and freshness of the 2019 over this style. But…. I’m also a sucker for Grassini haha

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  11/25/2021 - JRockEsq Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Method: chilled; white wine glass
  
  Look: medium straw
  
  Nose: lemongrass, grass, pea shoots
  
  Palate: lemongrass, unripe melon; long- finish of peas shoot, minerality, dried taragon; dry; medium body; medium+ acidity
  
  Overall: I love the green notes and the great acidity. This wine has great balance, but it's just a touch bitter and I would prefer just a little more/riper fruit for added contrast/complexity. Great wine.

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