Wine for sale: Jean-Claude Lapalu
Jean-Claude Lapalu
Jean-Claude Lapalu is one of Beaujolais’ best-kept secrets. Considered by many to be one of the region’s finest domains, this vineyard is still surprisingly understated in France. Seasoned enthusiasts have been coveting these bottles for a while and we find them at the tables of top restaurants. Another mystery: the prices are still incredibly pleasing…Don’t say we didn’t warn you!
From a family of wine makers, Jean-Claude Lapalu settled at the family domain in Beaujolais in 1982. After a few years of sending his grapes to the cooperative, he started making his own wines in 1996. He gradually found his own path and discovered his own style, developing natural vinifications with little intervention. The work in the vineyard has become much more eco-friendly and more respectful of the terroir. The 12-hectare vineyard is certified organic, the soil is ploughed, and the rows are covered with grass. Jean-Claude Lapalu has a superb viticultural heritage, including many mature vines, some of which are over 100 years old. A top Beaujolais domain!
WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY...
LA REVUE DU VIN DE FRANCE
“We have been enticed by the quality of these wines. It seems that the changes made in the vines a few years ago for a purer production are bearing their fruit today. There are two styles of wine crafted here: Le Rang du Merle and la Cuvée des Fous lean towards a profile of candied fruit, whereas Vieilles Vignes and Croix des Rameaux are more precise and defined.”