Domaine De La Bégude

High up in the north-easterly corner of the Bandol appellation area, the Domaine de la Begude was highly distinctive with its large gates and iron-red towering walls, giving a sombre and solid impression to the estate. The vines planted in the extremely rocky limestone terrain along the drive through the estate appeared impossible to flourish but this was repeated across the slopes of the vineyard and gave the domaine the feeling of a South African estate amid the scrub-like trees of the surrounding forest.

The tasting room at the Domaine de la Begude was grand and impressive and the welcome just as serious as its surroundings. We tried two types of rosé each with the wonderful retro-labels of the estate. The Cuevée Domaine 2017 with 80% mourvèdre and an even amount of grenache and cinsault and had a red fruit nose and flavours far more subtle than the strong, dark near-red of the pour. The second wine was also a 2017 and even stronger on the mourvèdre at 95% and just a dash of grenache. Raspberry in colour, our host reassured us that the bottle could be kept for up to 10 years. The reds came out and once again for this region, proved superb – some of the best we have tried in Europe and certainly to look out for in the future.

Tried and tasted the Irreducible 2017 Bandol rosé at €17/bottle and the 2015 La Brulade red at €45/bottle. Purchased two bottles of the red for the cellar.

Destination, drop-in or drive-by? One of the top three and highly distinctive. A must on your Bandol tour.

Route des Garrigues - 83330 Le Camp du Castellet