Profile

Structure

Bodymedium
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oakbarrel aged

Drinking window

Best 3 to 12 years from vintage.

vintage3 yrs12 yrs14 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating above is our own.

In the glass

Medium-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

What it pairs with

  • Gigot d'agneau en croûte d'herbes Herb-crusted lamb echoes the wine's dried-herb aromatic register.More wines for lamb →
  • Pigeon rôti aux lentilles Gamay's spiced dark-fruit profile suits roasted pigeon with earthy lentils.More wines for game →
  • Morbier Ash-layered Morbier's gentle funk mirrors the natural wine's wild character.

With cheese

Charolais Our pick The Burgundy wine board's top pick for Charolais is Viré-Clessé, a white from outside Beaujolais. A fruity Brouilly, a Gamay cru, also suits the firm, creamy goat paste: its acidity and red fruit lift the hay and hazelnut notes.

How to serve Brouilly Cuvée Alma Mater

Allow 65 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 60 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 14-16°C. Cellar temperature (14-16°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a Burgundy bowl with a wide opening: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Gigot d'agneau en croûte d'herbes, Pigeon rôti aux lentilles, Morbier. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Alma Mater ('nourishing mother') is Lapalu's tribute to the deep Brouilly terroir. Sourced from a single clay-granite plot, the cuvée receives longer barrel élevage than the domaine's standard wines.

  1. 2006Alma Mater first released as Lapalu's prestige single-parcel Brouilly

Facts

Producer
Domaine Jean-Claude Lapalu · visiting guide
Grapes
Gamay
Classification
Brouilly AOC
Oak
Old barrel élevage 10-12 months, no sulphur
ABV
13.5%
Price
€25-35 at retail
Drinking window
3-12 from vintage
First vintage
2006
Biodynamic
Biodynamic Practicing
Organic
ORGANIC CERTIFIED
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Brouilly Cuvée Alma Mater

What does Brouilly Cuvée Alma Mater taste like?

Structurally medium-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Lapalu's cellar-selection Brouilly: deeper and more structured than the Vieilles Vignes, with darker fruit, herbal complexity and a savoury, mineral finish.

When should I drink Brouilly Cuvée Alma Mater?

Drink 3-12 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Brouilly Cuvée Alma Mater?

Gigot d'agneau en croûte d'herbes is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Pigeon rôti aux lentilles and Morbier. Herb-crusted lamb echoes the wine's dried-herb aromatic register.

Is Brouilly Cuvée Alma Mater vegan?

Yes: the producer documents no animal-derived fining agents in production, so the wine is suitable for vegan and vegetarian drinkers.

What grapes are in Brouilly Cuvée Alma Mater?

The blend is Gamay. The wine is classified as Brouilly AOC.

Tags

biodynamic dry firm tannin gamay high acid medium body medium term mood contemplative mood rustic occasion cellar occasion special old vines old world organic pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price trade up single vineyard still red vegan

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