Domaine de la Bégude - L'irréductible 2011

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The terroir consists of marl and clay soils over a limestone base. Guillaume Tari and his wife manage this historic estate with passion and dedication. By preserving nature as much as possible, they produce wines that reflect their philosophy, according to which “quality is the sum of details, each of which demands precision.” Since the king of grape varieties, Mourvèdre, has the gift of expressing not only the character of its terroir but also that of its winemaker, the wines display a distinctly Bordeaux-style character—sophisticated and well-mannered—without ever betraying this splendid, untamed terroir overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Guillaume and Soledad Tari, from Bordeaux, run this 500-hectare estate, at the heart of which lie 20 hectares of organically farmed vineyards. One of the main characteristics of this winery is its high-altitude location. At 410 meters, La Bégude enjoys a climate very different from that near the coast. With significant temperature fluctuations between day and night, and a windy environment, the Mourvèdre grapes ripen slowly but surely. And on this “stony” terroir, the Grenache takes on a character rarely found in Bandol. With powerful aromas of black fruit and black olives, the reds (50% of the volume) always offer a warm character, at the upper limit of ripeness! The rosé is always remarkable for its unique vinosity. The 2019 red is admirably concentrated with a refined fruit expression. Let’s hope the next vintages follow this trend!

Wine Enthusiast