Gamay is an ancient Burgundian variety, although it must be said that the early records are far from complimentary... A local Duke even goes so far as to suggest that the wine made from Gamay makes the drinker severely ill and beseeches those growing it to cease and desist forthwith! Whilst its reputation is still tarnished from the days of “bubblegum” Gamay (in the form of Beaujolais Nouveau), those days are largely behind us; Beaujolais “crus” wines can be complex and interesting, and worth trying. Elsewhere, Gamay can produce varying styles of wine, with northern Loire examples offering a sort of Beaujolias-lite experience, whilst those from further south can be rich and spicy, with a good freshness.
