Domaine Bègue-Mathiot
Overview
A family domaine in Chablis run since 2008 by Guylhaine Bègue, who succeeded to the role of head winemaker following the tragic early death of her father Joël Bègue, the domaine’s founder (est. 1985). Guylhaine is assisted by her mother Maryse and brother Joffrey. The domaine farms 12 hectares, all at premier cru and villages level — they hold no grand cru — with old vines in Fourchaume, Vaillons, Vaucoupins, and Vosgros. Machine harvesting (Gilman hopes they will eventually switch to hand harvesting). All wines fermented and aged for 10 months in stainless steel tanks. Gilman (VFTC #114) had never previously tasted the wines and was “very impressed with the precision, fidelity to their underlying terroir and consistent excellence” of the 2022s. He calls them “really very fine values in today’s overheated Burgundy market.”
Appellations
- Chablis (villages and premier crus: Fourchaume, Vaillons, Vaucoupins, Vosgros)
Key Wines
- Chablis “Fourchaume” Vieilles Vignes — old vine bottling; 2022: 92+
- Chablis “Fourchaume” — regular bottling; 2022: 91
- Chablis “Vaillons” — 2022: 92
- Chablis “Vaucoupin” — 2022: 92
- Chablis “Vosgros” — 2022: 91
Style Notes
Pure stainless steel, no oak. The wines show precise varietal and terroir character with excellent fruit purity. Guylhaine Bègue’s approach prioritizes clean, mineral-driven wines that express each premier cru’s distinct personality. Excellent quality-to-price ratio.
2022 Vintage Notes (VFTC #114)
A strong debut for this domaine in Gilman’s pages. Six wines tasted, all in premier cru range. Drinking windows suggest wines will evolve well for 20–25 years.
- Chablis “Fourchaume”: 91 pts (2025–2045+) — “ready to go from the outset; perfect insurance policy for the VV”
- Chablis “Fourchaume” Vieilles Vignes: 92+ pts (2025–2050) — “another layer of complexity waiting to emerge”
- Chablis “Vaillons”: 92 pts (2025–2045+) — classic, oyster shell and chalk
- Chablis “Vaucoupin”: 92 pts (2025–2050) — “first class premier cru Chablis”
- Chablis “Vosgros”: 91 pts (2025–2045+) — inimitable wet stone character
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Nov-Dec 2024 #114.txt(pages 4–5, 8–11)