Lot presentation

Bandol La Brûlade La Bégude 2007

The wine

La Brûlade is a top single vineyard cuvée, coming from a parcel with extreme exposure both to the sun and the Mistral wind, but combined with the mild temperatures and cooler nights brought by the sea breeze. The Mourvèdre and Grenache grapes are grown organically on clay-limestone soils with an average yield of 25 hl/ha. The fruit is harvested by hand, sorted twice, completely de-stemmed and pressed with skin-contact maceration, regular punch-downs, alcoholic and complete malolactic fermentation in wood before maturing for 18 months in French oak demi-muids. This is a limited production cuvée, with an excellent ageing potential. Decanter before serving, ideally alongside a leg of lamb.

About the Producer La Bégude

La Bégude is a huge 500 hectare property, of which only a small part is planted with vines. The domain lies in the Cadière d'Azur region, near Castellet in the Var. It also has a large olive grove. The vineyard is in the Bandol appellation at an altitude of 400 metres. The Tari family (who own the agricultural company responsible for Château Giscours' vines) purchased the property in 1996. Guilllaume Tari manages the property. With a rich history, the site is like an open book. The barrel cellar, for example, is a 7th century Merovingian chapel. There are remnants of wine vats dating from the 14th century! La Bégude ("The place where one drinks"), is one of Bandol's most magnificent properties; eight grape varieties are grown: Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan for the reds, Ugni Blanc, Clairette, Rolle and Bourboulenc for the whites. The soil is mainly marly and clayey on a limestone base.
The property has Ecocert organic certification.
The wines are aged for approximately 18 months in barrels (depending on the vintage). Deep and intense, the red Bandol stands out for its notes of black fruit and liquorice, and its imposing tannic structure in its youth, which then mellows wonderfully after a few years.
Keep for: 10 to 12 years.

Detailed characteristics