Generally light in color with hue that usually is more blue-purple than red, wines made from Gamay noir can be very fragrant, full of fruit and fresh, floral esters. Frequently tart in their youth, wines made from Gamay noir tend nonetheless to be short lived. Like its distant cousins, Pinot noir and Chardonnay, Gamay tends to easily lose its varietal aroma and flavor identity when blended with another grape variety. Both red wines and rosés are typically produced from unblended Gamay noir.

Text reprinted with permission from:
Professional Friends of Wine   Click for full text