Domaine Tempier - La Tourtine 2010

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

At Tempier, Mourvèdre reigns supreme. A grape variety renowned for reaching its full 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 communes, 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 perfectly sun-drenched, creates ideal conditions for producing vintages that have become legendary.

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

About the estate:

Today, Tempier is the benchmark wine of the Bandol region. The Peyraud family has spared no effort to rise to the top of the regional—and especially 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 barrel cellar. Then, of course, he paid particular attention to an exceptional viticultural heritage consisting of very old Mourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault, and Grenache vines, 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 south-facing, 95% Mourvèdre with a touch of Syrah and Cinsault). The latest vintages have reached a very high standard. The estate acquired the 22 hectares of vineyards at Domaine de La Laidière in Sainte-Anne-d’Évenos, intended primarily for rosé production, leading Tempier to now produce more rosé than red wine.