Gamay Grape Varietal Report/WineEval.

Gamay is a thin dark purple grape variety and is known for producing light-style red wines.The gamay grape originated in the 1300’s in a village called Gamay, which is located near Burgundy. The gamay grape has a very sweet smell to it but it is very light-bodied and does not have a very strong flavoring that a lot of other red wines are known to have.  The gamay grape is usually never blended with other types of grapes and it almost always used on its own. The aromas of gamay wines are typically noted at fruity, specifically red cherries, raspberries and strawberries, and some banana notes. These wines taste fairly acidic and have a low amount of tannins.

Gamay grapes are related to pinot noir and chardonnay varietals and they can be found all around. They are most commonly found in France, particularly in the Beaujolais area. Additionally they are also popular in the Macconais and the Savoie regions of France. Over 95% of its use comes from France. The second most popular area where this grape is grown is in Switzerland. The grape is even found in California. 

Gamay is a very easy grape to grow and is also found to be grown in large quantities. The grape is so abundant that long ago it was feared that the grapes would overwhelm the vineyards of Burgundy and potentially damage the reputation of the high quality Pinot Noir grape that the Burgundy region was known for.  In the 1400’s the Duke of Burgundy even banned it from the kingdom and declared it to be an “evil and disloyal plant.”  The growing of the grapes greatly influences its taste. When grown in more acidic soils that inhibit deep root production, the wines are vastly improved and can show true distinction. It is often recommended that Gamay vines be planted on hill slopes, in order to avoid potential high productivity and vigorous vines producing grapes with lower fruit anthocyanins and tannins. 

Wine produced from Gamay comes in three main forms: Nouveau, Beaujolais Villages, and Cru Beaujolais. Nouveau is a purple-pink wine and is bottled only 6-8 weeks after harvest. It is released to the public every year on the third Thursday of November. There is very little tannin in the wine and is described as having fruity flavors such as banana, grape, strawberry, fig and pear.  

The second form, Beaujolais Villages, comes from the hilly central part of the Beajolais district. Carbonic maceration and fresh fruit flavors. The term "villages" indicates this is a higher quality and is a more refined drink.It is more"full bodied" and more complex than other wines produced in the same region.k

The final form is known as Cru Beaujolas, which come from the best vineyards in the north-central part of the region. These wines are made to be cellard and are aged anywhere from 3-10 years. They can take on Pinot-like characteristics, and pair well with foods like roast chicken or grilled salmon.

 http://www.wineaccess.com/wine/grape/gamay
 http://www.insiderwinetours.com/resources/wine-grapes/wine-grapes-gamay.php
 http://bubblyprofessor.com/2012/10/12/wine-grape-cheat-sheets-gamay/

Evaluation of a gamay grape wine:

Name: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais

Variety: Gamay

Region: Beaujolais, southern most region of Burgundy

Country: France

Price: $3.95, Vintage Cellar

Beaujolais is a large wine producing region that has a semi-continental climate with some temperate influences. Its close proximately to the Mediterranean Sea does influence Mediterranean influence o the climate. The region is overall, warmer than Burgundy with vintages more consistently ripening the grapes fully.

This wine is a Nouveau form of Beaujolais. It’s very unique because it’s the first wine of the harvest and is realized every year it comes out on the third Thursday in November. The terrain in the southern part of Beaujolais where this wine is grown had a flat terrain with rich sandstone and clay based soils with some limestone patches.

Georges Duboeuf is known as the king of Beaujolais because he has done so much to popularize the wines of the region . This is a very light-bodied, joyful and exuberant red wine that is meant to be drunk young. It was a fairly light colored red with some purple in it. It has strong aromas of the wine were very fruity and fresh. I got strong hints of bananas and raspberries and it almost reminded me of how a fruit roll-up smells. On the palate I picked up a very tangy and fruity taste, specifically cherries and cranberries. There was a good amount of acidity for my taste. There were low amounts of tannin, so there was nothing to mask all the bright fruitiness. There wine was not bitter or astringent at all. It was very refreshing and I thought it would make a great summer time wine.

 

Because of the lightness and fruitiness of this wine, I think it could be paired with many different types of food. Because its flavorings and the fact that its released a few days before Thanksgiving, I think serving it with a traditional Thanksgiving meal would be perfect. Because of the hints of cranberries in the taste it would work well with both light and dark meats, herbs and many other flavors that are a part of the festivities. I think it could also pair well with grilled or roasted meats, a variety of pastas, salads and cheeses.