Sorrenberg Gamay 2024

What joy there is in this wine. A bellwether release as always, that gives good DNA of vintags and typically ends up delightful regardless. This was tasted alongside a bunch of Beaujolais for good measure. Biodynamic wonderland of course, for the wines.

It feels somewhat pinot-like, slinky, silky, supple, all bright red cherry fruits, pomegranate juice, sweet spice with savoury elements lightly laid in. Alongside, some shiitake mushroom, faint game meat, white pepper and a good splash of blood orange zestiness to finish. A touch of caraway seed and cinnamon in the mix. Lots on. It feels curiously light, very delicious, energetic – the takeaway is this is a very much so a lither version of this wine. That being said, all class. And drinkability through the roof. 95 Pts, Mike Bennie, The Wine Front

"The bouquet of the new release 2024 Gamay shows cherry and plum with some earthy undertones. The aromas follow onto the palate combining with integrated acid and refined tannins which create a very well-balanced wine, finishing with great length."
Barry Morey, Winemaker

Mike Bennie has always championed Sorrenberg, previously saying of their Gamay:
"A beautiful wine, if not the benchmark for the variety in Australia."

'Barry and Jan Morey saw the potential of the Beechworth wine region very early, establishing the 2.5ha Sorrenberg vineyard on the outskirts of the Beechworth town in 1985. Their first vintage was in 1989. Barry, a quiet and unassuming man, is also one of the industry’s leaders in sustainability, employing previously used oils to run tractors, natural cork (which sequestered 5.4t of carbon in 2022), wet glue labels and moving into biodynamic viticulture in the 1990s. Sorrenberg became a certified biodynamic grower/producer in 2008. He also championed the gamay grape long before its current fashionable status, together with chardonnay, sauvignon blanc/semillon and a cabernet blend. The next phase for Sorrenberg is exploring new grape varieties with grenache, mourvèdre, carignan, cinsault and shiraz planted between 2019 and ’20, taking the winemaker’s total acreage to 4ha.'
Jeni Port, Wine Companion