2023 Maquette
(36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Cabernet Franc, 27% Merlot, & 9% Petit Verdot)
This 2021 Maquette screams Bordeaux at its best! The marriage of the four estate-grown Bordeaux varieties is effortlessly seamless and works magically from the first sip. Mature ripe, rich black fruits give this wine grippy textures and density. It has heavy tannins following bottling, but they will certainly smoothen out in the years to come. My favorite part of this wine is the tart taste of cherry pie and the floral notes of rose and geranium. Black-currant and chocolate strawberry flavors mix beautifully with toasted oak and cedar bouquets and finish with a sprinkling of roasted walnuts, dark cocoa, black olive, and coffee beans. Earth tones prevail on the mid and back palate, offering oregano and bay leaf flavors. This wine is built with a confident structure and ageable tannins.
In total, five wines were made and aged in separate barreled lots, only to be blended 10 days prior to bottling. All fruit was destemmed, fermented, pressed and oak barrel aged at Sculpterra for a grand total of 14 months. The harvest went late into the fall, thus extending fermentation over a month due to cold weather in late October and November. The color of each varietal in this blend is exquisite, a dark red hue coats the glass; we acquired more color in 2023 than seen in previous vintages. Chivos Cabernet was aged in NEW 500L French Oak Doreau barrels, noted for its espresso and black tea qualities. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot aged in a perfect mix of once and twice used American, French and Hungarian barrels. We elected to bottle this wine in February 2025 with a total of 990 cases.
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Varietal | Maquette |
| Varietal Composition | 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot, & 7% Petit Verdot |
| Appellation | Paso Robles |
| Acid | 0.64 |
| PH | 3.62 |
| Residual Sugar | 0.04 |
| Alcohol | 14.50% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 02/12/2025 |
| Cases Produced | 990 |
Maquette is our Bordeaux blend at Sculpterra Winery. The wine comprises four Bordeaux varieties and blends five estate vineyard blocks. The mix of soil, sunlight, topography, landscape and drainage all play a crucial role, making this blend complex and full-bodied. The vintage was the best growing season for Bordeaux grapes experienced in the last 10 years. Phenolic content and tannins were at the highest levels ever seen in our vineyard! The main player in this wine is Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from both “Chivos,” and “Bomba Vieja.” These 30 year-old Cab vines showcase a wonderful combination of black fruit with herbal qualities. Cabernet Franc, grown on site at “Lago De Los Patos,” brings the cherry fruit while adding notes of green leaf and jalapeño. Merlot is sourced from the “Hillside” block, the highest elevated vineyard and is known for its raspberry and fruit punch finish. Finally Petite Verdot, located in “Kathy’s Forest” is tannic, dry, yet contains an amazing note of fig and fruitcake.
