Core California Ground Around 2006

The 2006 Ground Around is a mere 260 case production. It is a blend of three of the California Central Coast’s most important red grape varieties: Grenache (39%) from Alta Mesa Vineyard, Tempranillo (36%) from Laetitia Vineyard, and Syrah (25%) from Santa Barbara Highlands Vineyard. The 2006 Ground Around offers a deep garnet robe, an amplifying aroma of blackberry, cranberry and dried cherries, along with baking spices, fennel and dried herbs. In the mouth, complex fruit flavors infused with eucalyptus, dark chocolate and espresso tones dominate the flavor profile and gratify the thirsty palate. The finish is long on this unique blend with an intense interplay of fruit, spice, and tannin. Enjoy this delicious blend now and over the next several years. For optimal enjoyment of the 2006 Ground Around, we suggest at least thirty minutes of aeration before serving at cool room temperature (60°-65° F). Enjoy!

As a bright, complex wine with plenty of panache, the 2006 Core Ground Around pairs well with a variety of foods, including spicy Mediterranean and Tex-Mex dishes. For starters, consider serving this artful blend with corn or pita chips and a blackened shrimp and chorizo sausage dip. Chicken or beef nachos with Manchego and Ashe County Cheddar, pickled jalapeños, sautéed Portobello mushrooms, grilled peppers and avocado also make a tasty pairing with the 2006 Ground Around. Eggplant Rollatini, spicy sausage and bean dishes, and heady pasta sauces make wonderful accompaniments, too. Grilled pork chops served with garlic mashed potatoes, collard greens, and pearl onions will complement this wine as well, but don’t be afraid to experiment.

Many of California’s most interesting, palate pleasing, and compelling wines emanate from small boutique wineries which produce such limited quantities of their liquid gems that few wine lovers ever have the opportunity to taste them. Long-time International Wine of the Month Club members will attest to the fact that craft wine producers do indeed fashion some of the finest wines in America, as our members have often been recipients of many theretofore undiscovered treasures from boutique family wineries. On that note, it is our pleasure to present to you this month our latest discovery – Core Ground Around.

Core Ground Around is the handiwork of Dave and Becky Corey and their Core Wine Company, which they launched in 2001. Before beginning Core Wine Company, Dave worked with Cambria Winery and Vineyards and Kendall-Jackson Vineyards of Santa Barbara County before beginning Vital Vines, a viticultural company providing technical support for vineyard property owners, vineyard managers and winemaking personnel in the promotion of sustainable agriculture. He has worked with such clients as Laetitia, Barnwood, Beckmen, Melville, Stolpman, Gainey, Zaca Mesa, Sea Smoke, Le Bon Climat, Rusack, Sine Qua Non, and Westerly among others – not exactly a paltry portfolio of wineries. Becky has worked for the Robert Mondavi owned Byron Winery in multiple areas of hospitality, public relations, and sales & marketing as well as Laetitia Vineyard & Winery in Arroyo Grande as Director of Public Relations. She is also responsible for Core Wine Company’s striking label designs, which include her original artwork, and all sales and marketing. Core Wine Company is, after all, a family affair.