#9 Lioco Sativa Carignan Mendocino 2015

This remote vineyard in the new Pine Mountain/Cloverdale Ridge AVA—pitched on a rocky slope at 2,400 feet off the valley floor—was exhilarating. It’ s moments like these that drive us forward. These mid-century, dry-farmed, head trained vines are attended to by the indefatigable (86-years young) Jim McCutchen. The rocky soil and steep slopes would challenge even a well-equipped vineyard crew and yet this reclusive grower from another era goes at it alone. We employ a prohibition-era fermentation method (fermenting on 100% whole bunches, which we tread under foot) resulting in a wine with punched out black fruits, fresh asphalt, violet pastille, and what the Coriscans would call maqui (wild Mediterranean herbs).