A red grape with white juice, Gamay’s medium-sized oval berries are slightly larger than those of Pinot Noir and covered with a thick bloom of blue-white powder. In the Centre-Loire, it is blended with Pinot Noir to produce the wines of Châteaumeillant and Coteaux du Giennois. 

When vinified as rosé, it gives fresh, aromatic wines. In traditional red winemaking, it produces a vivid colour, from deep garnet to dark ruby with purple highlights. The wines are fresh and approachable, with a lively edge of acidity. On the nose, Gamay surprises with a palette of red and black fruits (blackberry, redcurrant, raspberry), sometimes developing animal notes and hints of undergrowth. On the palate, the wines are fleshy and vibrant, with powerful tannins that soften beautifully with age. With a few years of ageing, they evolve towards more pronounced flavours such as prune and spice.