Domaine La Suffrène - Bandol Les Lauves 2018

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The affable Cédric Gravier has been managing this family-owned estate since 1996 with great open-mindedness and an innate sense of hospitality. With him came a major change: the grapes, which had previously been delivered to the cooperative, would now be vinified on the estate. This revival was made possible in large part thanks to his grandfather, who knew every vine by heart. Today, the estate spans nearly 60 hectares, and Cédric began the transition to organic farming in 2017. Located in the western part of the appellation, on predominantly clay-limestone soil, the estate’s diverse array of plots ensures a rich expression of Mourvèdre, Bandol’s flagship grape variety, with old vines accounting for 90% of the vineyard here.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

After a magnificent series of standout rosés, La Suffrène returns to the appellation’s fundamentals with this exceptional red. And superlatives were certainly not in short supply during the tasting: “precise,” “modern,” “impressive”... Behind an intense ruby color lies a delicious bouquet of ripe black and red fruits (wild strawberry, morello cherry, blackberry), toasted hazelnut, and leather on a slightly spicy backdrop. Supple on the attack, then full-bodied and silky, structured by fine tannins, the palate unfolds with a creamy texture bursting with ripe fruit that blends perfectly with the oak. Between power and delicacy, the balance is perfect.

About the estate:

It is in the hamlet of La Suffrène—said to have once been the home of a mistress of the Bailiff of Suffren—that part of the vineyards of this must-visit estate in the Bandol appellation are located. A 60-hectare family-owned vineyard, divided into about a hundred plots, whose grapes were taken to the cooperative until the arrival of Cédric Gravier, who took over from his grandparents in 1996. Currently in the process of converting to organic farming.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

For many years, the Gravier-Piche family delivered their harvest to the cooperative winery. When Cédric Gravier returned to the family estate in 1996, he decided to make his own wines and bottle the expression of old Mourvèdre vines sourced primarily from La Cadière d'Azur. Over the years, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to vinify the entire 58 hectares. Characterized more by strawberry flavors than citrus, the rosés are generous in both color and concentration. The richness and full-bodied texture of these early-ripening terroirs are evident in the dense reds, with their seductive tannins, reflecting the soft, clay-rich character of the soil. A classic that appeals to all, yet has not lost its Mediterranean soul.