Barbichette Wines 'Tete Beche' Cabernet Franc Seneca Lake 2022

Barbichette is a winemaking project recently begun by Louisiane Remy and César Vega. César started in the coffee world: they made their first bottling of riesling in the roastery César founded in Brooklyn in 2012. They source grapes from Finger Lakes vineyards grown in accordance with their natural wine philosophy. In the winery, they use no additives or commercial yeasts, nor do they do any fining or filtering. This ‘Tête Bêche’ (meaning “head-to-tail”) is made from cabernet franc grown biodynamically in an east-facing vineyard by Seneca Lake. The grapes macerate for a week whole-cluster in stainless steel before being pressed into barrel. Darker and denser than the previous vintage, the 2022 Tête Bêche announces itself with a touch of meaty richness amid otherwise cool aromatics. Complex on the palate, it combines black cherry with a slightly wild note, finishing with bright pomegranate and spice. Given more air, the slight spritz on opening mellows to an elegantly smooth chocolate cherry. Organically grown, biodynamically grown, low-intervention/natural wine, vegan.