Domaine Tempier - Bandol rouge 2018

At Tempier, Mourvèdre reigns supreme. A grape variety renowned for reaching its fullest potential when its head is in the sun and its feet in the water, it finds an ideal terroir here and the attentive care of a great winemaking family. A historic estate within the Bandol appellation, dating back to the reign of Louis XV, Tempier has been run by the same family since 1834—first the Tempiers, then the Peyrauds—and is now assisted by Daniel Ravier, who manages the property with brilliance and the same high standards as in its early days. With 38 hectares of vineyards spread across three municipalities, the estate produces exclusively Bandol appellation wines, the vast majority of which are reds. The terroir, sheltered from the mistral by the Castellet promontory and bathed in sunshine, creates ideal conditions for producing wines that have become legendary.

Behind its delicate reduction and lovely raspberry aromas, this 2018 unfolds with a surprisingly smooth structure. Its elegance makes it accessible even now. Of course, it will gain in complexity over the next two to three years.

Today, Tempier is the benchmark cru of the Bandol vineyards. The Peyraud family has spared no effort to rise to the top of the regional—and above all, local—hierarchy. Daniel Ravier, the estate’s current director, initiated this revival. He launched a major investment program in the winery, installing modern winemaking equipment, followed by a complete renovation of the cask cellar. Then, of course, he paid particular attention to an exceptional viticultural heritage consisting of very old vines of Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault, and Grenache, which produce, among others, three famous cuvées: La Migoua (10 hectares in Beausset-Vieux, half Mourvèdre complemented by Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah), La Tourtine (5.5 hectares on the south-facing terraces of Le Castellet, predominantly Mourvèdre with Grenache and Cinsault), and Cabassaou (1.5 hectares facing south, 95% Mourvèdre with a touch of Syrah and Cinsault). The most recent vintages have reached a very high standard. The estate acquired the 22 hectares of vineyards from Domaine de La Laidière in Sainte-Anne-d’Évenos, intended primarily for rosé production, leading Tempier to now produce more rosé than red wine.