Good things don’t always come around twice, but with a fresh 91 points, this “soulful and joyful” Cab blend deserved one more shot.

Sometimes we’re left scratching our heads…

In the case of Sculpterra Estate’s 2022 ‘Maquette’ Paso Robles Cabernet Blend, that head-scratching is NOT AT ALL about what’s inside the bottle. In fact, the delicious silkiness of this Bordeaux-inspired blend tastes VERY premium.

And the price (well, our price) is equally befuddling because $24 barely gets you a sniff of something on this level from around Napa or even Sonoma.

And there’s the name “Maquette”. It typically means a mock-up, a model of an otherwise unfinished product. Which just doesn’t compute because this isn’t missing a beat in any way.

Nothing “unfinished” about this delectable sipper! It’s actually the complete Bordeaux-blend package with that Paso plushness we’ve come to expect — from its chocolate-coated red berry, bay leaf, and toasty cedar nose down to its plush, juicy, cherry-pie laden palate, to that long and spicy finish.

Like we said, fantastic everyday drinking but with the “refinement” and “style” knobs dialed to 11.

Anyway, with a wine this good, let’s cut Sculpterra some slack on name. Sculpterra Winery and Sculpture Garden is an as-yet still undiscovered Paso Robles gem. Founded and still helmed by the Frankel family, this is a true passion project turned must-see winery stop.

Dr. Warren Frankel, his wife Kathy and their three kids moved to Paso in the 1970s. They caught the winegrowing bug and opened their doors as an official winery in the early 2000s. Since then, they’ve welcomed guests to their estate where they can ponder their excellent sips while visually taking in the splendor of their multi-million-dollar sculpture garden. It’s a stunning backdrop for stunning wines.

Warren’s children Paul and Faith are now leading the estate, and (along with their dad) are continuing the legacy of high-quality wines and unique wine tasting experience set out by their parents.

They call this label a work-in-progress, we call it a literal steal - even at full price. But when we cut that by nearly 60%? It’s time to stop pondering and start ordering!

91 points - Decanter “Winemaker Paul Frankel combines 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine was aged for 18 months in 500-litre American oak barrels, 12% of which were new. Soulful and joyful, it offers medium-to-full-bodied richness that builds with dark cherry fruit scented with crushed mint and salted dark chocolate. Chalky tannins provide structure, while notes of cola nut and orange zest round out the finish.”