Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol

The history of Domaine de Terrebrune

Domaine de Terrebrune was created by Georges Delille in 1963. Seduced by the site, he first acquired the small bastide amid abandoned vines and centuries-old olive trees, then set about rehabilitating the estate and restructuring the vineyard.

The cellar was built in 1975, with an underground structure, to enable gravity-fed vinification and maturing of the wines in the best possible conditions. The first bottles of Domaine de Terrebrune were sold in 1980, the year Georges' son Reynald joined the estate. Today, grandson Erick has also joined the estate, which covers 30 hectares of AOC Bandol production.

The Domaine de Terrebrune vineyard

The vineyards of Domaine de Terrebrune are mostly south-facing. They face the Mediterranean Sea and offer an extraordinary view of the Côte d'Azur. The vines are surrounded by centuries-old olive trees, as well as pine, oak and cypress forests.

Domaine de Terrebrune benefits from a microclimate that's ideal for vineyards. In this Bandol region, the sunshine is optimal and the nearby sea brings a sea breeze that gives a specific flavor to the wine. The winds beat down on the grapes, particularly the Mistral, invigorating the main grape variety, Mourvèdre. The terroir of Domaine de Terrebrune is clay-limestone, and the predominant clay is brown, hence the name. The surface of the soil is covered with limestone pebbles.

The soil's structure enables the roots to reach deep down to collect the nutrients and moisture the vines need to thrive. These terroir characteristics give the wine its uniqueness, with well-developed aromas, generous tannins and a long finish, backed by a subtle minerality. The Mourvèdre grape, with its small berries and very dense skin, provides excellent structure and great ageing potential.

The wines of Domaine de Terrebrune

The red wine from Domaine de Terrebrune

The red wine is a blend of 85% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache and 5% Cinsault, with vines averaging 25 years of age. This is a wine for laying down that can be kept for up to 30 years. Remarkably full-bodied, it offers aromas of black fruits, including blackberries, mingling with licorice. Its tannins are rich, but never aggressive. When young, this red wine is ideal with red meats or grilled fish; with age, it is more suited to meats in sauce.

The white wine from Domaine de Terrebrune

The white wine is made from Clairette, Ugni blanc and Bourboulenc. It exhales subtle aromas of white flowers and exotic fruits, and offers a long, persistent finish. Domaine de Terrebrune white wine excels alongside scallops, various shellfish and grilled fish.

Domaine de Terrebrune rosé

Domaine de Terrebrune rosé is a blend of 50% Mourvèdre and the rest Grenache and Cinsault. It offers aromas of citrus (lemon and pink grapefruit) and dried apricot. The palate is full-bodied, very spicy and always very fresh. This wine goes well with Provençal cuisine, mixed salads and shellfish.