Effortless Gamay from Savoie

And with a low-alcohol grape, you’ll be forgiven for the leisurely extra pour

2023 Les Aricoques, "Pan! Le Rouze" VdF Gamay - $40

Pair with: barbeque chicken

Gamay is the go-to for a red wine that can hang out in the fridge, making it extra enticing during the summer months. While the Beaujolais region may be Gamay’s spiritual home, its mountain getaway is located just to the east, in the French Alps. There’s something about Alpine Gamay that feels so effortless, as the cooler climate really lets the lighter and brighter elements of the grape shine through; it doesn’t make for the the more serious and concentrated wines of Morgon per se, but it’s fun and relaxed and, in a way, becomes the best version of itself.

The “Pan! Le Rouze” Gamay from Les Aricoques in Savoie is thrillingly vibrant and juicy, with macerated strawberry and a whiff of violet on the nose, and a zingy palate of rhubarb, mint and dried herbs. It’s easy-drinking to say the least, but Gamay is a low-alcohol grape, so you’ll be forgiven the leisurely extra pour.