Gamay and Beaujolais are inextricably linked, so to speak. Ninety-seven percent of the Beaujolais vineyards are planted with Gamay. It is, therefore, THE red grape variety of Beaujolais ! It is prized for its freshness, its red fruit aromas, and its lightness. It gives rise to wines with different profiles: round, luscious, with subtly acidic fruit – like the famous Beaujolais Nouveau – but also more concentrated and complex, improving with age, as the ten Beaujolais crus, such as Morgon, Fleurie, and Moulin-à-Vent, are known for. Each reveals distinct characteristics , highlighting the subtle influence of the terroir on the grape variety. They all share, however, a suppleness of tannins that makes them accessible to all palates.
Gamay is the only red grape variety allowed for the Beaujolais AOCs ; there are accessory grape varieties which are allowed up to a limit of 15%, but these are white.
Gamay and the Beaujolais revival
In recent years, Beaujolais wines have gained considerable popularity . There are several reasons for this: firstly, their quality has never been higher. Secondly, their flavor profile aligns with contemporary tastes for freshness and drinkability. Thirdly, there is a growing interest in natural wines . Beaujolais is arguably the birthplace of natural wines in France, and indeed, in the world.
Indeed, just after the Second World War, Jules Chauvet, a wine merchant and producer based in La Chapelle-de-Guinchay, was not only a tasting expert but also a renowned winemaker, chemist, and researcher. He left his laboratory to experiment in the vineyard and the cellar. His credo: " The less you touch the vine, the better it thrives ." Thus, he championed organic farming even before it existed. If the grapes were ripe and healthy, interventions in the cellar were kept to a minimum, including sulfiting. As early as 1954, he developed the carbonic maceration protocol, still used today and since adopted in many other regions. His best-known "disciples" were Marcel Lapierre, Yvon Métras, Jean-Claude Chanudet, and Pierre Overnoy. They, in turn, passed on their knowledge to new generations of winemakers.
Beaujolais is an extraordinary region encompassing a mosaic of over 300 different soil types. This allows for a great diversity, which is grouped into 12 appellations . More precisely, there are 2 regional appellations ( Beaujolais and Beaujolais Villages ) and 10 crus: Brouilly, Côte de Brouilly, Chénas, Chiroubles, Fleurie, Juliénas, Morgon, Moulin-à-Vent, Régnié, and Saint-Amour.
To help you get a clearer picture, we have selected some distinctive Gamay wines from Beaujolais that you should taste to best discover the full diversity of its terroir:
Our recommendations for the best Gamay wines from Beaujolais
Côte du Py 2022 - Jean Foillard: a future great!
It's still too early to judge this vintage from Morgon's most renowned terroir. For now, you can appreciate a fine and elegant mouthfeel despite the wine's unusual density. And one senses the pedigree and minerality that will only become more pronounced with time, as will its aromatic complexity. Patience!
To order Jean Foillard's Côte du Py: https://www.petitescaves.com/collections/vigneron-jean-foillard/products/cote-du-py-2022-jean-foillard
Les Charmes 2021 - La Bonne Tonne: it lives up to its name!
Wines from the Charmes sector, in the northwest of the appellation, are often very appealing even in their youth. Added to this is the finesse and freshness of the 2021 vintage, resulting in a wine that is already delicious and irresistible in the glass.
To order Les Charmes 2021 - La Bonne Tonne: https://vins-etonnants.com/products/morgon-les-charmes-2021
Fleurie La Madone 2020: total elegance!
Jean-Claude Chanut, known as Le Chat (The Cat), is one of the few remaining disciples of Jules Chauvet still working, even though he has begun to pass the torch to his daughter Jeanne, a veterinarian by profession. La Madone is the finest terroir in Fleurie: it expresses itself in a refined, ethereal wine with delicate floral notes. But don't think its beauty is fleeting: Le Chat's wines age harmoniously for several decades.
To order the 2020 Madone:https://vins-etonnants.com/products/fleurie-la-madone-2020
Coup de Foudre 2021 - Domaine des Bertrand: it's amazing!
This Fleurie from the Bertrand family, made from vines over 60 years old, offers more body than the previous wine, with ripe fruit, while retaining its floral notes. In short, an intense and complete wine that will charm you now, but will be even better in 5-10 years.
To order Coup de Foudre 2021: https://www.petitescaves.com/collections/beaujolais/products/coup-de-foudre-2021-fleurie-les-bertrand
The Grilled 2021 - Pierre Cotton and Marie Bonnet: controlled opulence
We move on to Côte-de-Brouilly, with vines growing on mid-slopes facing due south. The result is a more intense, velvety wine, dominated by black fruit, stone fruit, and licorice. One might think one was further south were it not for the wine's low alcohol content of only 12% and its remarkable balance.
To order the Grilled Wines: "The Grilled Wines" 2021 | Pierre Cotton | Marine Bonnet - Petites Caves
Father 2020 – The K Family: THE value for money!
This cuvée, made from the estate's oldest vines, is produced by passionate new winemakers. In the heart of the Terres Dorées region, the clay-limestone soils lend a Burgundian touch to the wine, further enhanced by barrel aging. The result is a smooth, elegant wine with complex aromas and very subtle oak notes, which might just win over those who usually shy away from Gamay.
See The Father: https://www.lesgrappes.com/vin/la-famille-k-le-pere-rouge-rouge-2020-16279
Recommended food and wine pairings for Gamay
Red wines made from Gamay grapes pair well with a wide variety of dishes. Beaujolais Nouveau, in particular, is known for its light and fruity character. It is often enjoyed young, like "primeur wines." It can be served as an aperitif or with vegetarian dishes such as savory tarts or composed salads.
While the Beaujolais wines, from greater terroirs and benefiting from longer aging, will happily accompany red meats and roast poultry , or even better, a pot-au-feu !
We must not forget regional specialties such as Lyon sausage, pâté en croûte, eggs meurette, or, more daringly, pears in Brouilly.
Discover a selection of Beaujolais wines: https://www.petitescaves.com/collections/beaujolais
