2022 Groundwork Picpoul Carbonique

Region: Paso Robles < CA
Grape: Picpoul
Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming, 100% whole cluster carbonic
fermentation, 14 days on skins; bottled unfined/unfiltered with
minimal added SO2; 12% ABV; 420 cases
Winemaker: Curt Schalchlin

Groundwork, a natty offshoot of winemaker Curt Schalchlin’s Sans Liege Wines, is centered around single varietal Rhone-inspired wines from California’s Central Coast. Schalchin takes a meditative approach to wine, one that’s part wine-whisperer, part winemaker. His ethos is best summed up by this statement on the website:  "I trust an intuition of the microcosms of each vineyard site and vine to guide my work through each vintage".  With Groundwork, he's more playful, turning a few classic Central Coast grapes upside down to make 5 experimental cuvees that we're totally digging.

Especially this carbonic Picpoul, with grapes coming from the Beato and Derby vineyards in Paso Robles.  Ruby red grapefruit pith, Jasmine Pearl Green tea, fruit loops, apricot, spearmint.
It smells exotic and sexy, with Jasmine tea and lush notes of apricot. There's more green tea and apricots on the palate, along with a lightning bolt of ruby red grapefruit and a nostalgic hit of Fruit Loops.  Super fun and playful for summer days and warm nights.