Wildflower Brewing & Blending St Walter 2024: Gamay

Wildflower - St Walter 2024: Gamay Price: $34 St Walter a golden barrel aged ale wholly fermented by a diversity of yeasts and bacteria collected from native flowers in NSW refermented with red wine grapes. It is named for Topher and Bernadette’s first son. Saint Walter was an 11th century monk from the Loire Valley in France and is the patron saint of vintners. In 2024, St Walter: Gamay was made by blending barrel aged golden mixed culture fermentation ale with 515kg of handpicked, whole bunch Gamay from Johansen Vineyard in Tumbarumba, NSW. After a four month maceration and refermentation of fruit and beer, it was bottled and allowed to naturally carbonate and mature before release. Tasting notes by Meesh: Look I know I say this every time, but what a colour! There is just so much fruit character bursting out of the glass...a beautiful expression of the lovely fruit from Johansen. Some light floral notes followed by red berries, and almost into black forest territory. There's an element of rich funk and vinous character giving it depth too. On the palate it's round, with an elegant fruit weight and a pleasant tannic grip.