Bouncy, crunchy Gamay, this no-fuss wine is an irresistible fruit bomb packed with amazing primary fruit aromas, delicious soft red berry flavours and a note of dark chocolate.

For centuries maligned, mistreated and misunderstood, Gamay was outlawed by Philip the Bold in 1395. Some vignerons rebelled, hiding forbidden Gamay vines amongst ‘noble’ Pinot Noir. In their honour winemaker Guillaume Letang has released the deliberately disruptive Gamay, bottled without appellation and without rules!

Gamay loves the granite/siliceous soils of the vineyards in the hills to the north west of Lyon in eastern France. 2019 was a warm, dry year across France and the grapes were hand picked deliberately early to maintain freshness. In the cellar, grapes are vinified using traditional carbonic maceration techniques (where fermentation is started by the weight of berries in the vat, crushing those below) followed by a short cuvasion.

Pairing

Try with charcuterie, grilled herby chicken kebabs, or sausages on the barbeque.