2020, LIOCO Indica red, Mendochino County

The challenges of the 2020 vintage were formidable but not impossible. Pandemic aside, it was the widespread fires that necessitated loose knees and a steady temperament. Several of our vineyards were exposed to periods of hazy air from fires in neighboring regions. The distance from these fires ultimately proved to be the saving grace. The lab kept sending us back clean samples, and theories emerged about vineyards being relatively safe provided the fires originated far away. This proved to the be the case in parts of the Redwood Valley. To be extra cautious, we tested every load of fruit and employed winemaking protocols honed in the 2008 fire vintage. The 2020 Indica is from 100% old vine Carignan and features a historic ranch we've not sourced from before. Casa Verde is one of the neatest heritage plantings in the Redwood Valley with whites and red grapes interplanted in an old school California sprawl. We field selected for Carignan only. The normally football-sized Carignan clusters resembled mango-sized Pinot Noir clusters. The wine is a deeper, darker version of itself—clearly impacted by intense drought.