Wines Côte-de-Brouilly Domaine Laforest - 2024

Domaine Laforest’s Côte-de-Brouilly 2024 is a vibrant red wine originating from the heart of the Beaujolais region in France. Exclusively crafted from the Gamay grape, which is emblematic of Beaujolais, this vintage showcases the variety’s youthful charm and expressive fruitiness. The 2024 vintage benefits from a relatively cool yet balanced growing season, yielding a wine with ample freshness, crisp acidity, and delicate tannins. Vinified traditionally using semi-carbonic maceration—a hallmark of Beaujolais winemaking—this Côte-de-Brouilly is characterised by bright aromatics, with notes of red currant, cherry, and subtle violet, underscored by a hint of minerality derived from the unique volcanic soils of the Brouilly hill.

The Côte-de-Brouilly appellation is distinguished within Beaujolais for its slopes of ancient blue volcanic rock, lending a notable finesse and tension to its wines. The region enjoys a semi-continental climate, where warm days are tempered by cool nights, allowing Gamay to achieve optimal ripeness while retaining its signature freshness. Historically, Côte-de-Brouilly has been esteemed for producing structured, age-worthy Beaujolais with an identity distinct from the neighbouring cru villages, thanks to its altitude and terroir-driven expression. Beaujolais itself boasts a centuries-long tradition as one of France’s most convivial wine regions, marrying accessibility and complexity in equal measure.

For food pairings, Domaine Laforest’s Côte-de-Brouilly 2024 is beautifully versatile. Its lively character complements regional dishes such as Saucisson de Lyon or a classic coq au vin. It also pairs well with roasted poultry, charcuterie boards, and lighter game, while the wine’s subtle earthiness makes it a delightful partner for grilled vegetables and soft cheeses like Saint-Marcellin.

To best appreciate its aromatic freshness and supple structure, serve this Côte-de-Brouilly slightly chilled, ideally at 14-16°C. You may wish to decant the wine briefly if opened young, to allow the lively fruit and floral aromatics to fully unfurl. This wine promises enjoyment both in its youth and with short-term cellaring.