Winemaker Notes
Deep ruby in color, the 2022 has not only the vibrancy one now expects in Grounded Wine Co.'s Public Radio blends, but power, refinement, and nuance are here, too. A spicy, loamy character more reminiscent of Hermitage than the Central Coast contributes a mellow, luscious, almost ethereal aspect to the ripe, dense structure of this wine. Deep black cherry and ripe red plum are present from entry through the long, aromatic finish.
Blend: 44% Grenache, 21% Mourvèdre, 19% Syrah, 16% Petite Sirah
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A nicely balanced Rhone-style blend that combines pretty, fresh red-fruit character with a good texture of moderate tannins. So drinkable and fresh, accented by oak spices and full in body. Made from 44% grenache, 21% mourvedre, 19% syrah and 16% petite sirah from west Paso vineyards. Aged in about 25% new oak.
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.