Beaumes-de-Venise exploration: Domaine du Durban
Gaetan Leydier hosted us at Domaine de Durban, a significant producer in the region with 70 hectares of vines, of which 56 hectares are around the winery. This sort of concentration of vineyard holdings is quite rare in the region. We also bumped into Gaeten’s father, Henri.
This is a family domaine that was taken over by his great grandparents in 1967. They have 30 hectares in red Beaumes-de-Venise, 20 hectares of Muscat, and then 6 hectares in Gigondas, which is next door.
The two sides of the estate are at different levels, with different expositions. They have mostly clay soils, but there’s also quite a bit of trias here.
Domaine de Durban Vieilles Vignes Beaumes de Venise 2022
14.5% alcohol. 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre. This is warm, spicy and fruity, with a nice combination of sweet berry fruits, some floral cherry and herb detail, and a bit of grainy structure. Drinking very well now, this is a warmly satisfying red wine. 92/100
Domaine de Durban Beaumes de Venise Cuvée Prestige 2022
14.5% alcohol. 70% Grenache (from trias terroir), 25% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre. Old, large wooden casks. Warm, spicy nose with a slight pepperiness. This is vibrant and juicy on the palate but also has some depth, with nice concentration and a drying tannic structure that works well as a foil to the sweet fruit. Very stylish with good balance. 94/100
Domaine de Durban Beaumes de Venise Esprit de Famille 2020
Plot selection of old vines, with some of the vines 130 years old. 65% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre. Warm, spicy nose with some oak evident. The palate is structured and dense with some brightness, but also depth. The oak is very high up in the mix in this wine, taking it in a bit of a different direction. 91/00
Domaine de Durban Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2023
15% alcohol. Nicely expressive with a lovely fruity quality. Hints of aniseed with ripe table grapes and some ripe melon, finishing warm and sweet. 91/100
Domaine de Durban Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 1999
Golden colour. Spice, mint and honey on the nose with tinned pear, peach and table grape notes. The palate is sweet and spicy with a distinct minty edge with marmalade, melon and then some warm spiciness on the finish. Honeyed and slightly waxy with lovely depth. Mellow and enticing. 94/100
Domaine de Durban Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 1990
Lovely mint and spice nose with real intensity. Notes of honey, mint and spice. Still fresh with real complexity and some subtle savoury notes. Delicious. 95/100
BEAUMES-DE-VENISE
- Introduction
- Petitjean family: Domaine de Cassan and Château Les Croix des Pins
- Xavier Vignon
- Domaine La Ligière
- Domaine Saint Amant
- Domaine de la Ferme Saint-Martin
- Domaine Raboly
- Rhonea
- Domaine de Durban
- Domaine De Fenouillet
- Domaine Saint Roch
- Domaine Les Bernardins
- A big tasting of Beaumes-de-Venise wines
