Domaine Begude « Wilson on Wines

Posts Tagged Domaine Begude

Two Favourites from O’Briens

Posted by John Wilson on April 24, 2024

I was in my local O’Briens last weekend and couldn’t resist buying two of my favourite wines for dinner that night. I have been enjoying both for five years, probably a lot longer.

Domaine Begude Étoile Chardonnay 2022, Limoux (Organic)

James Kinglake and his team produce a fine range of wines, mostly made from either Chardonnay or Pinot Noir. The Étoile is fermented and aged in large French oak foudres and demi-muids using indigenous yeasts. It strikes the perfect balance between rich and fresh, with a beautifully textured palate and good acidity. Subtle toasted almonds ripe pears and apples with a crisp dry finish. Perfect with richer seafood or chicken dishes. Fantastic value for money, especially when compared with any white Burgundy. 13.5%abv.

€18.96 down from €22.95 from O’Briens.

Bardolino Classico Cuvée XV 2022, Guerrieri Rizzardi

I am a big fan of plain Bardolino and Valpolicella (as opposed to all the ripasso and appassimento wines) and the Cuvée XV is a perfect example of the style. The vineyards of Bardolino overlook the stunningly beautiful Lake Garda. The wines tend to be light and fruity. The Cuvée XV is more full-bodied than most but still retains a lovely freshness. Medium-bodied with gorgeous supple ripe blackcurrant and black cherry fruits and a tannin free finish. Perfect with most white meats. 13.5%abv

€15.95 from O’Briens.

Tags: Bardolino Classico, Domaine Begude, Limoux, O'Briens

Posted in: The Wine on Wednesday, Top Drop

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Le Bel Ange, Domaine Begude 2014, IGP pays d’Oc

Posted by admin on August 5, 2016

Le Bel Ange, Domaine Begude 2014, IGP pays d’Oc
12%
€16.96 or 2 for €25.43 from O’Briens

Oak-free, crisp refreshing dry white with lively green apples, pears and lemon zest.

A pleasing aperitif, but I have tried it alongside moules marinières with great success on several occasions. The two combined make for a very satisfying inexpensive starter.

Not strictly under €15, but if you buy two, the bottle price drops to €12.71, which is very good value for a wine of this quality. I have written about it many times before, but this is one of my go-to inexpensive white wines. The Begude 11300 Terroir and Etoile are a little pricier but equally good value. This contains around 15% Chenin Blanc, the remainder being Chardonnay, an unusual blend that seems to work very well. Organic.

Tags: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Domaine Begude, James Kinglake, Le Bel Ange, Limoux, O'Briens Wines

Posted in: Daily Drop

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Eight Green Bottles – a weekend’s drinking

Posted by admin on June 20, 2016

Before the health brigade get going, this included Thursday, there are two of us and, as you can see, not everything was finished! From right to left.

Domaine Begude Le Paradis Viognier 2015, IGP Pays d’Oc, Organic

I don’t think the agents (O’Briens) are importing this, but they should certainly think about it. Just what you would expect from a cool-climate Viognier; lovely clean peach fruits, good acidity and a crisp dry finish. It doesn’t have the richness of Viognier from warmer climes, nor the bitter fruit-stone finish, but this is a very well-made refreshing wine.

Le Mas 2014, Coteaux du Languedoc, Domaine Clavel, Organic
€14.70 from Wines Direct

Jean Clavel was one of the great personalities of the Languedoc. His son Pierre now produces the wine. This is a lovely easy-drinking fruity wine, warming, lightly spicy with plums and a tannin-free finish. Great value too.

Domaine des Nugues 2013, Beaujolais Villages
€16.75 from Martin’s, Fairview & 64wine,Glasthule.

A delicious Beaujolais, humming with elegant crunchy red fruits. A wine of the week in the Irish Times a few weeks back.

Vouvray Sec le Haut-Lieu 1990, Domaine Huet

Dug out from the cellar and should have been dug out years ago. Old, madeirised and past it, unless you are into very orange wine.

Stemmler Carneros Pinot Noir 2012, USA

A present from my sister, who lives in California, last year. Nice wine – meaty, even v slightly bretty?, with clean ripe juicy plum fruits. Quite substantial and concentrated. very enjoyable with my roast chicken.

Tio Pepe Fino En Rama, Jerez

I love fino and I love the en rama style, which tends to have a bit more character.This is lovely; fresh, tangy, bone dry with almonds and citrus peel.

Verus Furmint 2014, Ormoz, Slovenia

A mere 12% but a delicious fresh fruity light white wine – will appear in the Irish Times a few weeks hence.

Dveri Pax Sipon/Furmint Ilovci 2011
€20.99 from Wines on the Green

Don’t be put off by the vintage; this is lovely wine. Will also appear in the Irish Times shortly.

Tags: Beaujolais Villages, Carneros, Domaine Begude, Domaine Clavel, Domaine des Nugues, Dveri Pax Sipon Ilovci, Huet, O'Briens Wines, Slovenia, Stemmler Pinot Noir, Tio Pepe En Rama, Verus Furmint, Viognier, Vouvray Le Haut Lieu, Wines Direct

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Le Bel Ange 2014, Domaine Begude, IGT Pays d’Oc

Posted by admin on May 27, 2016

Le Bel Ange 2014, Domaine Begude, IGT Pays d’Oc
12.5%
€12.95 for the month of May from O’Briens
Organic

I have featured this before I think, but this is one of my favourite white wines, made by Englishman James Kinglake at his domaine, high in the hills above Carcassonne. The blend of Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc works really well; the latter giving it a lovely zestiness, and the former pristine rounded green apple fruits. Think really good Chablis, but at half the price. Perfect on its own or with seafood, salads and summery recipes. Begude also produce a really good value Pinot Noir, also available from O’Briens.

Tags: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Domaine Begude, James Kinglake, Le Bel Ange, Limoux, Pays d'Oc

Posted in: Daily Drop

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A lighter weekend’s drinking

Posted by admin on April 19, 2016

Fewer bottles last weekend, mainly because I spent Saturday down at the West Waterford Food fest in Dungarvan. My first time, and a great event if you haven’t been.

Simone Joseph Chardonnay Le Petit Moe 2014, Vin de France
12.5%
€13.99 from Searsons, Monkstown, The Drink Store, D7.

An attractive light refreshing crisp dry white, without any of those confected fruits you find in southern French Chardonnays. Nice well-priced wine, perfect by itself or with fish and seafood.

Ch. Sainte-Eulalie 2013 La Cantilene, Minervois La Livinière
14%
€21.70 from Karwig Wines, Carrigaline, Co. Cork.

Not cheap for a wine from the Languedoc, but still very good value. Delicious full-bodied wine crammed with swarthy dark fruit s, a touch of oak, and a long satisfying finish. Perfect with red meats.

Domaine Begude Esprit Pinot Noir 2014, VdP de Haut Vallée de l’Aude
12.5%

From down in Limoux, a lovely light piquant Pinot Noir. O’Briens usually bring it in, so hopefully it will appear over the next few months.

Givry 1er cru Servoisine 2013, Domaine Joblot
13%

I bought this, for around €35, from 64wine recently. Owner Gerard Maguire suggested I stash it away for a few years – advice I should have heeded. As he said, it is an excellent wine (imported by Burgundy Direct I think) but very closed and quite tannic for a Burgundy. It does however, have a wonderful unevolved nose, and masses of tight dark cherry fruits and good acidity on the palate. I decanted and enjoyed it.

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Tags: Ch. Sainte Eulalie, Domaine Begude, Domaine Joblot, Esprit Pinot Noir, Guvery La Servoisine, Karwig Wines, La Cantilene, Le Petit Moe, Minervois La Liviniere, Simone Jospeh, Vallee de l'Aude, Vin de France

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