Jean-Marc Lafont 2022 Domaine de Bel-Air Beaujolais-Villages Les Granits Bleus ($15.99)

Showing an attractive reddish-purple color in the glass and breathing appealing red-fruit scents of cherry and light raspberry with back notes of black pepper, licorice, and a hint of wet stones, Jean-Marc Lafont’s Les Granits Bleus is a delightful Beaujolais-Villages. Mouth-filling and balanced, it’s well-suited for service on the Thanksgiving Day banquet table or with any meal. It’s dry and properly acidic, with a structure framed by soft tannins and minerality that make it sing with food. 13% alcohol. U.S. importer: Skurnik Wines, NYC. (Nov. 21, 2024)

FOOD MATCH: We’re thinking of roast turkey and hearty plant-based mushroom-filled dishes for Thanksgiving week, but it’s versatile at the table with poultry, red meats, cheeses, and bean-based entrees like ratatouille.

WHEN TO DRINK: Although not meant for long-term cellaring, this balanced and gently tannic red would likely hold up and possibly gain complexity over the next three years or more.

VALUE:
This excellent Beaujolais-Villages is a fine value at Wine-Searcher.com’s $18 average U.S. retail, and it can be found widely for a dollar or two less.

WEB LINK:
Here is importer Skurnik’s info page on Les Granits Bleus. Skurnik also offers this interesting article and photos about the artisanal Beaujolais producers it distributed, including Jean-Marc Lafont.

FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Check prices and find vendors for Jean-Marc Lafont’s Les Granits Bleus on Wine-Searcher.com.

Read about Beaujolais-Villages and find dozens of wines and vendors for other excellent wines of the region at this Wine-Searcher link.

Follow this Wine-Searcher link for information about the Gamay grape and links to many Gamay wines and vendors.