Domaine de la Bégude - Bandol blanc 2019

The terroir consists of marl and clay soils resting on a limestone base. Guillaume Tari and his wife manage this historic estate with passion and dedication. While preserving nature as much as possible, they produce wines that reflect their philosophy: “Quality is the sum of details, each of which demands precision.” Since the flagship grape variety, 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-refined—without ever betraying this splendid and untamed terroir, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

After a somewhat lackluster 2018, the white wine (Ugni, Clairette, and Rolle) has regained a pleasant, sun-kissed richness and a fruitier, more straightforward finish.

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 in a windy area, 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 production) consistently offer a warm character, pushing the upper limits of ripeness! The rosé is always remarkable for its unique vinosity. The 2019 red is admirably concentrated with a refined expression of fruit. Let’s hope future vintages follow this trend!