Beaumes-de-Venise exploration: Domaine des Bernardins
Website: https://www.domaine-des-bernardins.com/en/
Bernardins are one of the top producers of Muscat de Beaumes de Venise (perhaps the top producer?), but don’t ignore the red wines from this excellent Domaine. I visited with owner Romain Hall, who is thoughtful and considered, and making some great wines.
Originally owned by monks, his family bought it 200 years ago, and he’s the sixth generation to farm here.
Romain’s parents used to live in Netherlands and came back here to work at the family property. He has two brothers who work in other fields, and says he was never pressurized to work in the family domaine. ‘It’s the only way,’ he says. ‘If you aren’t passionate about this, it’s too much.’
Domaine des Bernardins Les Balmes Côtes des Rhône Rouge 2024
14% alcohol. This is from an old vineyard just outside the appellation. It’s 90% Grenahce and 10% Syrah. Whole cluster, concrete tank. Lovely floral aromatics with sweet cherries and plums, showing real refinement. This is so expressive on the palate with floral cherry fruit and nice sappy green hints. Such purity and elegance to this wine. Massive drinkability, but also some seriousness. 94/100
Domaine des Bernardins Beaumes de Venise 2024
14% alcohol. 10% of white grapes in the blend, 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, cofermented (Grenache with Mourvèdre, Syrah with Marsanne, Grenache with Grenache Blanc). Concrete tanks then stainless steel for ageing. Beautiful pure aromatics with elegant cherry and berry fruit. Supple and quite elegant with lovely red cherry and cranberry notes as well as a hint of pear and citrus in the background. Such purity and focus here with real elegance and definition to the fruit. 95/100 (in the UK with Thorman Hunt, The Wine Society, Tanners)
Domaine des Bernardins Beaumes de Venise La Chapelle 2022
This is barrel fermented and this year it was new oak. First vintage was 2019. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre in almost equal parts. There’s some spicy woody character on the nose as well as sweet dark fruits. The palate has nice definition with lovely berry and cherry fruits. The spicy oak is winning a bit at the moment, but there’s a hope that with time this will integrate better: there’s plenty of goodness here. 91/100
Domaine des Bernardins Côte du Rhône Rosé des Balmes 2025
13.5% alcohol. This is fresh and layered and quite gastronomic, with lovely acidity under textured citrus and cherry fruit. There’s a nice weight here, with lovely fruit purity, finishing fresh and sappy. 92/100
Domaine des Bernardins Doré des Bernardins Muscat Petits Grains 2025 IGP Vaucluse
His grandfather was already making dry Muscat. It’s a wine that has interesting pairing possibilities. Floral but restrained with nice grape and pear fruit on the nose. The palate is lively and bright with juicy citrus and table grape notes, showing some Muscat character but not too much: there’s balance and restraint here. 92/100
Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2024
15% alcohol. This has 25% of red Muscat in it. Wonderful aromatics with some sweet grapey richness, a hint of barley sugar, wax and tea. The palate is rich, textured and sweet with grapey richness, but also some lovely spiciness and density, finishing with notes of rose petals and dried herbs. A beautiful example of Beaumes de Venise. 94/100
Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2025
This will be bottled in a few weeks’ time. This is vibrant, sweet and complex, with rose petals, tea, table grape and some canteloupe melon, showing lovely richness and intensity. There’s a touch of glace cherry, too. Really expressive. 94/100
Domaine des Bernardins Muscat de Beaumes de Venise Hommage NV
This is a blend of several vintages in a perpetual reserve, with 5% new wine being added each year, but this is already five years old. Started the solera in 2003. Previously they’d made a solera style until the appellation was granted in 1945, and they have recreated this old style. Wonderfully complex, spicy aromatics, with raisin, nuts and honey, as well as a touch of raisin. The palate has tea, honey, nut complexity. There’s still some freshness but also some lovely maturity and complexity. Concentrated, refined and spicy with nice intensity. Finishes spicy and long. 95/100
