Winemaking and grape growing is Paul Frankel's passion! From an early age, Paul showed interest and excelled in science, botany, and chemistry. Most of all Paul loved the outdoors and working with his hands. His love for farming shows through in the quality of his wines. He has conducted numerous vineyard and winemaking experiments that have resulted in award-winning wines. Paul has studied the Frankel Ranch property during his lifetime and he is very well versed in soil types and meso climates on the estate.
THE VINEYARD
2018 Mega Focus, a Grenache and Mourvédre centered red wine blend brings forth terrific lighter style fruits, gestures of oak, and finishes with tight refreshing acidity. The tailored tannins are present on the finish giving the wine a pleasant dry character. Its medium body and plush flavor profile make it the perfect pairing for both fruity salads and grilled marinated chicken breast and mushroom. The fruit was grown in three distinct vineyards: Grenache and Mourvédre from Frankel Vineyards Estate, Syrah from neighboring Eugene Alonso vineyard and an additional lot of Grenache grapes from Rafael Jimenez Vineyard in San Miquel. 2018 was a solid grape growing year with very seasonable weather from bud break to eventual harvest. Electing to cluster-thin more aggressively in 2018 than previous vintages, limiting the crop load to 3-4 tons per acre. The resulting fruit was fully ripe, dark in color, and accumulated proper sugar and phenological ripeness slightly earlier than normal.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of baked plum and cherry mingle nicely and lead the way to earthy spice notes of sage. This Grenache-dominant blend is bright, tart and packed with cherry fruits, while Syrah and Mourvédre muscle their way in with a darker expression of black fruit flavors and firm tannins that pierce through the palate. The wine weaves into a smoky, mineral finish that keeps its audience begging for more. This complex Rhone-style blend will gain even greater depth and nuance through 2025.