Es Okay Red Mendocino County 2020

A second label of Rootdown Wine Cellar by Mike Lucia, "Es Okay" is lighthearted in spirit and full of Northern California character. For this red, Mike and his team harvested merlot (42%) and cabernet (18%) from Cole Ranch and sorted the fruit whole-cluster into small fermenters right in the vineyard. Packed with dry ice to kickstart the anaerobic carbonic maceration process, those fermenters did their work in 20 days, after which the wine was pressed. Half of the merlot aged in egg-shaped tanks, while the rest of the merlot and cabernet rested in barrels. The final blend includes grenache (40%), also from Mendocino county. Despite its unassuming, squat bottle and smiley whale label, this wine displays a depth of aromatics and medium-bodied frame, with woodsy berries, minerality, and savory herbal flavors.