# LIOCO Pinot Noir 'Mendocino County' (2023)

- **Producer:** LIOCO
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Pinot Noir
- **Region:** California, United States
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €25
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 14–16 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** rose, cherry, orange, raspberry, plum, herbaceous, white pepper, mushroom

## About this wine

Founded by Matt and Sara Licklider, LIOCO is a benchmark producer in the New California Wine movement based in Healdsburg, California. The winery focuses on site-specific expressions of cool-climate grape varieties sourced from dry-farmed and organically managed vineyards. This Mendocino County bottling brings together fruit from an all-star network of coastal vineyards across diverse sub-appellations, capturing a wide-angle snapshot of the rugged North Coast terroir.

## Interesting facts

- LIOCO was established by former wine importer Matt Licklider and hospitality veteran Sara Licklider.
- Fruit for this cuvée is sourced across seven distinct dry-farmed, organically cultivated vineyards.
- Includes grapes from Cole Ranch AVA, which is the smallest official wine appellation in North America.

## Food pairing

The bright, high acidity and supple, low-to-medium tannins make this Pinot Noir extremely versatile at the table. Earthy and savory dishes such as duck, roasted pork, and mushroom-based dishes harmoniously complement the forest and herbal nuances, while the vibrant acidity cuts through moderate fat in poultry and tuna without overpowering the dish.

## Wine making process

Hand-harvested fruit is sourced from notable Mendocino vineyards including Peterson, Costa, Cole Ranch, and Edmeades. The grapes undergo open-top tank fermentation with 15% whole-cluster inclusion to add structural lift. The cap is gently managed over a two-week fermentation period. The wine is then aged for 8 months in a combination of neutral oak barrels and stainless steel tanks prior to bottling.