For the first in our series of Winemaker Spotlights, we're going to introduce the winemaker from Sculpterra Winery that many of you have come to know and adore, Paul Frankel!
Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden (Yes you read that right, sculpture garden!) tucked into a hillside in Paso Robles, is home to an incredible combination of great wine and breathtaking art (truthfully, the wine is an art form in itself and stands up to the larger than life sculptures that tower over the grounds without a doubt).
Paul's wines are hand crafted and meticulously cared for at each stage of the process from the vines on the 260 acre estate to the shelves of the tasting room and translate into unique wines each year that tell a story of that time period in history. While here at Complexity we like to say he's a wizard and clearly has magical powers that produce such consistently unique and mind-boggling delicious wines that we just can't get enough of - his wine making experience comes from a lifetime of hands on experience and diving head first into experimentation, education, and dedication to his passion and craft.
Paul has won MANY, MANY, MANY awards (not that we're surprised) but we wanted to highlight some of his latest accolades on what we consider some of our favorite varietals he produces!
2021 Héroe Viognier 93 points
Energetic and nervy, with bright notes of Asian pear and honeysuckle. A robust mouthfeel of intense flavor; weighty but not unctuous.
Héroe Viognier consistently taste of peach, nectarine, grapefruit and Meyer lemon, and this vintage adds minerality and apple to the mix. Being fermented and aged in 100% stainless steel gives this wine’s the palate a fresh glistening and vibrant quality. The tropical flavors are forward leading the way to a full-bodied mouth of savory and lingering aftertaste. A picture-perfect yellow gold color fills the glass, and the wine is crystal clean and shines in the light. This wine will age for 3-5 years but enjoy it right now for the freshest experience imaginable.
2021 Paso Pink Rosé 92 points
2021 Paso Pink Rosé dressed in dark cranberry-pink, this stainless-steel-aged blend of 48% Grenache, 36% Syrah, and 16% Mourvedre will have you purring. Ripe and crisp, its lively, deeper flavors range from hibiscus flowers to Rooibos tea. A serious contender on the rosé scale, its sculpted body shows fine acidity and a juicy texture. Pomegranate and wild strawberry sweeten on the finish. Meow!
Floral characteristics drive into the wine’s long finish. Drink this wine now for the freshest experience possible. It will age for 2-3 years and develop further bottle bouquets along the way.
2020 Sculpterra Pinot Noir 93 points
Off the Frankel Family Estate, this variety is not one you’d think of in Paso Robles. But in the estate’s cooler valley, grown on rocky, well-drained soils, this is a dynamic, floral showpiece. Cinnamon, black tea, and an earthy middle create a stage for ripe notes of plum and plum skin dryness. Unique and exotic, with a pleasing red berry finish.
Sculpterra’s 2020 Pinot Noir is wonderful discovery, a wine with balance, finesse, predominately fruity in nature but also displaying nice herbal spice elements as well. With the heat of 2020 this wine ended up strongly built and bolder than previous vintages of Sculpterra Pinot Noir.
Without a doubt this is a fruit-driven wine, easily expressing layers of strawberry, black cherry, and raspberry that linger on the finish. With a screw cap finish, this bottling is meant to be enjoyed right away, although this wine can age, Paul predicts it will reach its pinnacle greatness between 2024-2027.
Needless to say, if you haven't had the pleasure of gracing your taste buds with Sculpterra wine, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! We ALWAYS have Paul's wine's in our by the glass lineup, so come on by and try a flight of Héroe Viognier, Paso Pink, Héroe Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir or dive head first into a bottle, we have (almost) his entire lineup!
Already a fan? Join Paul's wine club and get bottles of his incredible wine sent right to your door all year long!