FAT bastard

Brand Description

Good friends Thierry (renowned French winemaker) and Guy (British wine industry rebel) created FAT bastard almost by accident. It started out as an experiment Thierry had going in the back of his cellar, leaving a barrel “on the lees” (yeast cells). He didn’t know what to expect, but when he and Guy tried the wine, Thierry exclaimed, with a strong French accent, ”Now zat iz what you call eh Phet bast-ard!” This very British expression perfectly described the wine’s wonderful color and round, rich palate, so that’s what they named it. In 1991, Véronique Torcolacci obtained her degree in oenology from the University of Toulouse. She joined Gabriel Meffre as oenologist in charge of quality before becoming head winemaker.

Location of Vineyard

Produced in partnership with Gabriel Meffre and crafted from the low-yielding vineyards of the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France, the wine is remarkably full bodied with a vibrant, fruit-forward style. It is no wonder that Time magazine has referred to FAT bastard as, “Wine for the anti-snob.”

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

When crafting FAT bastard, the objective of Véronique and her team remains the same: never make the slightest compromise on quality. With this in mind, she regularly visits the Languedoc vineyards, meeting with the winegrowers and seeking out wines that satisfy her rigorous demands.

As someone who feels strongly about protecting the environment, Véronique raises the issue of sustainable development with winegrowers and always strives to respect the land and the grape varieties as much as possible during the winemaking process. Commitment and passion are the driving forces that have enabled her to rise to this challenge for the past 20 years. Thanks to her unique knowledge, she has obtained more than 100 medals, several 4- and 5-star ratings, and special mentions for her wines in all the major wine competitions and top wine magazines. Her skills have also made her a name throughout the profession, particularly in the area of wine bottle capping and corking.

 

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Winery Profile
Owner: Gabriel Meffre
Winemaker: Véronique Torcolacci
Founded: 1997
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Acclaim
“This red blend has a nose of black plum, macerated black raspberries, vanilla baking spice, ripe stems, and dried black cherry. Velvety tannins begin on the attack and swim through the length of the taste of the generous wine.” – (Best Buy) — acclaim for 2022 FAT bastard Syrah from Wine Enthusiast, Oct 2024
“Juicy plum and oregano aromas frame the nose onthis wine. The palate is light with ample acid and hints of boysenberry, plum, bell pepper and round tannin.” — acclaim for 2021 FAT bastard Syrah from Wine Enthusiast, Oct 2023
“This Cabernet Sauvignon is the Goldilocks and the Three Bears version of “just right.” Deep ruby in color, the wine opens with black plum, black olive, red raspberry and cranberry. Raspberry becomes more dominant on the palate, yet allows other fruits to shine underneath.” – (Best Buy) — acclaim for 2021 FAT bastard Cabernet Sauvignon from Wine Enthusiast, Jun 2024
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