Domaine La Thuiliere Gravallon, Fleurie, La Madone

You may be wondering, what on Earth is this crazy wine with a bunch of French words I've never heard of. Great question! This wine is made from the Gamay grape and comes from the Beaujolais region of France, just south of Burgundy (specifically, the commune of Fleurie in Beaujolais). Gamay is a funny little fruity grape that tends to be light like Pinot Noir, sometimes lighter. We drank this wine with family on Easter Sunday, and it was a perfect choice for this occasion. It smells like lilacs and roses and tastes like a Spring day, like enjoying fresh strawberries and tart cherries. This wine is light and bright and easy drinking. As Bart said, "This pairs well with a wicker chair and a shaded deck." If you are someone who likes drinking big, bold Cabernet wines from Napa, this may not be your favorite. But if you enjoy light and fruity Pinot Noirs and you want to branch out a little, you should absolutely try this one here.

Food pairing idea: For this occasion? Easter ham. But it would go great with chicken or a light dish not heavily seasoned

In a nutshell,

The wine: A-

The price: $25 at Total Wine

Would we buy it again? yes