Domaine Tempier 2019 Bandol Rose Magnum
Domaine Tempier's Bandol rose is a contender for the world's best. If having capacity to age is one of the criteria for assessing quality, then this wins by a country mile. Made from 1st choice grapes of Mourvedre, Cinsault and Grenache from their organic vineyards and made with the direct press method. The resulting wine is fragrant, delicate, elegant with just enough richness to make it immensely satisfying when young.
The Region
Provence
Provence is perhaps the most picturesque of France's wine regions with azure coasts and lavender fields. There has been a tsunami of rosé flooding our shores from this region, some of it of questionable quality, but in the majority the wines are extremely likeable and in some instances, outstanding.
We are particularly fond of Domaine des Mapliers for their sophisticated and gastronomic style, but who can forget Chateau d'Esclans for their Whispering Angel which is nothing short of a phenomenon. The very best examples in our opinion come from the world class estate of Domaine Tempier producing outstanding wines in all three colours.
The Producer
Domaine Tempier
Domaine Tempier is undoubtedly the leading producer of Bandol and has been under ownership of the same family since the 1880s. The estate is famed for its long-lived, powerful, tannic reds from mostly the Mourvedre grape variety, but also its elegant and ageworthy rosé and white. The quality of the wines here is known throughout the world, and recognised as one of the South of France's greatest wine producers, and a long-term favourite of Noble Grape.