I continue to gravitate towards the wines from Paso Robles. The California Central Coast region just north of San Luis Obispo crafts wines from a plethora of varieties, including Bordeaux, Rhone, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish options.

Fulldraw Vineyards lies in the heart of the region, in the Willow Creek District AVA/Templeton Gap area, run by husband-and-wife team Connor and Rebecca McMahon, who focus on sustainably farming their 100-acre vineyard filled with limestone-rich soils. 

The winery focuses on white and red Rhone varieties from their 100% estate-grown fruit. Fulldraw Vineyard FD2 is a blend of 60% Grenache with 40% Syrah. The wine is bold and full-bodied, with a powerful pop of ripe fruit on the forefront. The heat from Paso’s long summer ensures the grapes reach optimal ripeness throughout the growing season, creating a wine that is over 15% alcohol. Though ripe and bold, the approachable wine has a nice balance thanks to 20 months of neutral French oak aging, ensuring the tannins soften and the flavors fully meld. In tasting the wine, the Grenache stands out, lending layers of ripe raspberry and strawberry notes, with the Syrah giving spicy, smoky, peppery characteristics. This delicious wine will pair beautifully with smoked brisket, sausages, or hearty stews.