Bandol lies on the Mediterranean Sea between Toulon and Marseilles. Mais oui. Bandol is one of the oldest vineyards in France. The first vine was planted in Bandol 2,500 years ago by the Romans, and Bandol wine bottles could be found in India or Brazil two centuries ago. C'est vrais. Mourvèdre grape is the strong base of any Bandol red wines. The Mourvèdre grape gives to the wines of the area body, earthiness, spice and tannins. Le singe est dans l'arbre.
They are big, they age well, and they're relatively inexpensive. Mourvèdre is used quite a bit in Australia and also in Spain, where it's called Monastrell.
Here are a few of our favorites:
Chateau Pibarnon (Sherry-Lehman and K&L)
95 points and a Highly Recommended from the Wine Spectator: "An intense and focused red, with concentrated mineral, plum and dark cherry that are flanked by tobacco box notes. Lithe yet powerful..." (And who doesn't want to be called lithe yet powerful?)
Domaine du Gros' Nore (Wine Chateau)
Both their red and rose score high points with the critics.
Domaine Tempier (esp. the 'Cabassaou')
Chateau Pradeaux (KL Wines)
Rosé
Bandol makes many fine rosés. The primary grape is, again, Mourvèdre, but the rosé winemakers will add a bit of Grenache and Cinsault. The result is a highly refined, pale rosé with a mineral structure and well-balanced acidity.
Domaine Tempier and Domaine du Gros' Nore are two of the better known producers.
Visiting Bandol
Read the World Travel Guide article.
The "Maison des Vins du Syndicat des Domaines du Bandol" is one of the two Maisons des Vins in Bandol where visitors can taste Bandol wines for free. (The other , named "Caveau des Vins de Bandol" is 50 meters away).
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