Performing essentially the same as it did last year, the 2006 Ground Around (39% Grenache, 36% Tempranillo, and 25% Syrah) is a more stern, short, and compact effort revealing austere tannins in the finish. These wines often need time to settle down given what is clearly an artisanal, non-interventionalistic winemaking style.Tel. (805) 714-5057; Fax (805) 938-7567

With vegetal aromas and flavors, this is not a successful wine. It doesn’t have enough fruity richness to balance out the alcohol and tannins, and is not likely to age. ——S.H.(12/1/2008)—— 82