Domaine des Bernardins - Beaumes-de-Venise 2023 (sec)

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The estate owes its name to the Bernardine monks who once owned it. The Castaud family has been running it for five generations; the vineyards (23 hectares, mostly white grape varieties) are planted on the southern slopes of the Dentelles de Montmirail, in a magnificent landscape. It is regrettable that the estate is one of the last defenders of Muscat, even though it produces a wine of very high quality here.

Decanter

About the wine:

Smoked bacon, bay leaf, and olive brine. This is a very refined wine for a whole-cluster wine, with lovely tannic finesse and a beautiful texture. Powerful, tannic, and invigorating, yet compact, with lively acidity, a dry and savory finish, and perfect balance. A good vintage for this Southern Rhône wine, which consistently offers good value for money. Vineyards currently in the process of converting to organic farming; the grapes are fermented whole-cluster.

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

About the estate:

This estate embraces a traditional approach to winemaking, eschewing excessive technology and modernism. It’s no surprise that the small-berried Muscat grapes yield a nectar with an unparalleled texture and a richness of sweetness rivaling that of the greatest Sauternes. Domaine des Bernardins, renowned for the quality of its magnificent Muscat de Beaumes-de-Venise, also produces a lovely red wine with a strong personality that truly delights us. Romain Hall has been making wine with his father since 2007. While red wine accounts for 30% of production, it has always been part of the lineup, with the oldest recorded vintage dating back to 1847. The estate vinifies using whole clusters of black grapes, to which 10% white grapes are added during blending. The latter plays an important role by adding richness, according to Romain. The wines are highly aromatic, and while they used to be a bit fiery in their youth, the latest vintages are far more refined, precise, and possess a masterful grace, always capable of beautiful aging over time. Above all, this estate produces stunning Muscats, which are a delight to drink even in their youth. But with age—ten, twenty years, and beyond—they acquire incredible complexity.

Wine Enthusiast

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

The nose reveals ripe red fruit and a hint of floral notes. The palate is well-defined and smooth, bursting with ripe red fruit; this wine is characterized by such energy and liveliness—a freshness that truly cleanses the palate and cuts right through. Long, refined, and structured—delicious.

James Suckling

About the wine:

A succulent, juicy, and pure red wine, with aromas of wild berries, cherries, blood oranges, baking spices, and a hint of leather. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins. Lively and full of vigor, with a delightful bitter orange note in the lingering finish. Ready to drink now or worth cellaring.