FOREIGN FRIENDS 2024 'ANNA' GAMAY

Sourced from Dixon's Creek vineyard in the Yarra Valley Vineyard, this wine is made from 30% whole bunch Gamay. Picked in February 2024, the grapes spent two weeks fermenting on skins in concrete fermenter to begin their winemaking journey. The wine was then pressed to large format French oak (foudre) and aged over winter and spring. Bottled in October, this is a serious Gamay, at first this is quite spicy on the nose (think 'toasted sesame seeds') but then you have some beautiful bright fruit coming through.

Like each of our labels, the Gamay design is inspired by a visionary historical woman. English botanist and photographer Anna Atkins is the inspiration behind the design of this label. Considered to be the first woman to create a photograph, she was the first person to publish a book containing photographic images. If you look closely, you'll notice her holding photographic lenses over a collection of botany. We picked 'Anna' based on features she shares with Crystal and Leila's mother Liz, a scientist with a fascination for photography.

"Yarra Valley is the quarry for this gamay. Pan-Victorian explorations by Foreign Friends make for a worthy investigation. There is great drinking afoot. Quite a tart, tangy red wine, lighter spectrum as expected with distinct white pepper, red capsicum, minty herbal elements in red cherry, rhubarb juice and rose hip tea. A wine on the edge, but refreshing in that way. Crisp edges, a chisel of light but drying tannin here too. You’d call it a friskier expression of the variety and it does well in that regard. Thirst-quenching gamay, let’s say."

92 points by Mike Bennie I The Wine Front