2023 Gearhead Princess Agent Carbonic

Region: Siletto Vineyard < San Benito County < California 

Grapes: Roussanne, Cabernet Franc

Vineyard/Cellar Stats: Organic farming; field blend co-fermented carbonically, made in ancestral method for sparkling; bottled, un-disgorged, with nothing added (zero-zero); 12.2% ABV; 100 cases

Winemaker:  Craig West

• Carbonic co-ferment of organic Cab Franc + Rousanne done bubbly
• Cloudy and glowing with what appear to be little golden glitter specs
• Adult fruit punch made fancy with a slight fizz  
• The Cab Franc gives it an herbal edge -- pair with tacos!

More about Gearhead

Our buddy Noel of Purity turned us on to his buddy, Craig West, who makes wine at Noel’s Richmond facility for his upstart natural wine label, Gearhead.  Craig was a fisherman and a baker for Acme Bread, but when he met Noel and started helping him with production, he decided that this was his calling and pivoted to wine.  Now he makes tiny lots of wine from organic farming, all foot tread, many with carbonic maceration, and all sans added sulfur.  Craig is scrappy like most of the new natty crew in California, and searches high and low for organic fruit to purchase.