Gamay Noir

Gamay Noir


This week I bring you the red grape Gamay Noir; a great summer red that could also be considered the poor man's Pinot. Gamay is a french grape with it's traditional home in the Beaujolais region. Most Gamay you will find will be a Beaujolais, but there are some nice examples here in BC. It is pale in colur like a Pinot with flavours of strawberry, cherry, and raspberry.

There are 4 different styles/qualifications of Beaujolais. The most common is Beaujolais; these can be found in most Liquor stores, and are usually under $15. Great easy drinking wine that can benefit from being served slightly chilled. Beaujolais is meant to be drunk young and is going to be a light, fruity dry wine with light tannin. Beaujolais usually goes through a process called Carbonic Maceration. Initially the grapes are not crushed and the whole clusters are put into vats filled with carbon dioxide to have the juice start it's fermentation inside the grape. This will give flavours of cherry, bubblegum, banana, and sometimes cinnamon spice.

If you like what you taste with a simple Beaujolais; you could try a Beaujolais Villages. These are from the better sites on the hills north of the village and a few dollars more. There are 39 in total and will tend to have a bit more character and depth. Some of the grapes will see some oak.

The 10 best villages are labeled Beaujolais crus, and will usually be labeled with the village name like Moulin-a-vent, Fleurie, Morgon, or Brouilly. Actually, as I write this I am sipping on a 2013 Brouilly that I found on sale for under $20. These cru wines will usually see some oak ageing and be vinified traditionally, and some can see some bottle age.

The last style is Beaujolais Nouveau, this is released on the third Thursday of November after the harvest and meant to be drunk right away. It gives a fresh fruity example of what the later wines may taste like.

Several BC wineries have adopted Gamay and some years it does quite well due to it's early ripening. Most are under $20 and may be a good substitute for a lighter Pinot Noir. Try out Mt Boucherie's, Oak Bay, or for an oaked version Desert Hills.

So if your looking for something new to try, or looking for a fun summer red that is refreshing on a hot day. Give a Beaujolais or a Gamay Noir a try.

Enjoy, and as always thanks for reading!

                    

10 Beaujolais Cru Villages:

Saint-Amour  /  Julienas  /  Chenas  /  Moulin-a-Vent  / Fleurie

Chiroubles  /  Morgon  /  Regnie  /  Brouilly  /  Cote de Brouilly