Currently one of the most respected growers in Beaujolais, Jean-Claude Lapalu started off as a grape grower, only beginning to produce his own wines in 1996. In the early years Lapalu was apparently influenced more by southern producers such as Richaud, Milan and Gramenon before he met and became friends with Lapierre, Foillard, Thevenet and other producers of natural Beaujolais.

As with the other great producers of Beaujolais, the farming here is exemplary with organic certification since 2010, and biodynamic methods as well. Lapalu's vineyards have a very high percentage of old vines, with most parcels averaging between 50 and 100 years of age.

Always experimenting, Jean-Claude currently produces a number of cuvées without sulfur and has been working with amphora since 2009 for his cuvée "Alma Mater." His are dense and complex wines, but always balanced and elegant, well suited for current drinking, preferably with decanting, as well as five to ten-plus years of cellaring.