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19 April
2003
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www.beaconhillwine.com
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Gamay
[ga-MAY]
The full name of this French red wine grape is Gamay Noir
a'Jus Blanc. Gamay wines have gained prominence in
France's beaujolais region where this grape, which
represents 98 percent of all vines planted, reigns supreme.
They're so associated with Beaujolais that winemakers
outside of the region often try to imitate the style of
immediately drinkable, light- to medium-weight wines with
high acid and low tannins. These light purple, fruity wines
suggest flavors of bananas, berries, and peaches. Gamay is
grown in other parts of burgundy, such as the côte
chalonnaise, where a blend of pinot noir and not more than
two-thirds Gamay is known as bourgogne passe-tout-grain. In
the loire anjou produces Anjou Gamay, and from
touraine comes Gamay de Touraine. There is very
little true Gamay cultivated in California. For years
California vintners grew what they thought was true Gamay
Noir a'Jus Blanc, calling the resulting wines gamay
beaujolais. However, this "Gamay" was eventually identified
as an unexciting clone of pinot noir. California's napa
gamay is another case of mistaken identity. It too was
thought to be a true Gamay, but has since been recognized as
Valdiguie, a variety from Southern France's
languedoc-roussillon region. The wines produced from both
these grapes are light- to medium-bodied and made in a style
similar to true Gamay from Beajolais. Because of historic
practice, both California wines are sometimes still called
Gamay Beaujolais. blaufränkisch, a variety grown in Austria
is also sometimes mistakenly called Gamay. Other names for
Gamay include Bourguignon Noir and Petit Gamai. |
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Beacon Hill Wine and Spirits, specializing in hard to find wines, champagnes and spirits
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