Jean-Claude Lapalu
Based in St Etienne la Varenne, near the famous ‘Cote de Brouilly’, Jean-Claude is the custodian of some magnificent old vines planted on the pink granitic soils around the southern Beaujolais cru of Brouilly. Jean-Claude Lapalu began his domaine in 1996, making his first commercial wines in 2000. Altogether, he has 12 hectares of vines in Saint-Etienne-la-Varenne, Brouilly, most of which are between 60 and 80 years old.
Somewhat of a cult figure in France, Jean-Claude is quickly establishing a global reputation for both the quality and style of his wines as they are at once natural and modern. Since 2010 all wines have been basket pressed on a 120 year old stone based press. The wines have no other additives, fining or filtration.
Jean-Claude Lapalu started relatively late when it came to orchestrating his own vineyard and wines, however is supported by a generational winemaking family that set up a healthy understanding of Beaujolais.
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