Got Gamay? WBW #38

This months Wine Blogging Wednesday is hosted by Frank Morgan. I met Frank at the 2009 WBC and I follow his wine blog Drink What YOU Like. The topic Frank selected was Gamay and I was looking forward to discovering what Gamay, the grape variety grown in Beaujolais France, is all about.

I picked up a bottle of 2008 Jean Foillard Morgon Cote Du Py and brought it along on a road trip to Death Valley National Park. My idea of a successful road trip always includes a cooler stocked with some good wine. Our lodging choices were going to be very bare bones in Death Valley so I made sure our provisions would make up for the lack of creature comforts. Along with the Gamay I brought a bottle of 2007 Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre from Quivira and Bonny Doon Le Cigare Volant 04.

I liked the Morgon. It was light with nice acidity and berry flavors. I thought it had a scent of violets but maybe that was due to my ultra violet exposure in the desert. But it did seem to have a distinct floral aroma to it. It also had a peppery component that reminded me of Pinot Noirs I’ve had in the past.

We tried the Gamay one night in our motel room with some slices of navel orange and Ricciarelli cookies. Ricciarelli are delightful Italian cookies made from almonds, sugar and egg whites. They are soft, just short of squishy, and not too sweet with a light dusting of powdered sugar and a trace of vanilla and orange. They paired quite well with the wine.

I would definitely try this wine and others like it again. I think Gamay is a great choice to pair with desert sunsets and spring wildflowers. And I must admit nothing upgrades a cheap-o Motel 6 room better than a good wine. Got Gamay? I do now. I won’t take a another road trip without it!