Domaine Tempier - Bandol Rose 2022 (Pre-arrival)

For many of my colleagues who love red, white, or sparkling wines first and foremost, new arrivals of revered Burgundy, Barolo, or Champagne elicit profound joy and anticipation. But as someone who loves rosé above all else, this is the bottle I most eagerly await year in and year out. From the world’s greatest site for Mourvèdre—Bandol—Tempier’s rosé is what I open for celebrating milestones, holidays, or a home-cooked family feast. Classy and classic, perfectly balanced, incredibly versatile at your table, and so expressive of the flavors and aromas of the Provençal coast—rosé doesn’t get better than this.

55% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 20% Cinsault

Domaine Tempier, located in the heart of the Bandol appellation, was established by the Tempier family in 1834. The domaine won its first gold medal in 1885 and is one of the few 19th-century family-run wine estates that has stayed true to its past.

According to historians, Bandol’s first vines were planted around since 600 BC and the Romans exported the local wines from Bandol harbor. On 11 November 1941, Bandol was granted AOC (Appellation d’Origine Controlee) status.

Domaine Tempier’s 38 hectares are spread over several parcels facing the sea on steep, sun-drenched slopes. It is made up of a patchwork of vineyards, the main ones being La Migoua in Le Beausset-Vieux and La Tourtine and Cabassaou in Le Castellet, as well as the house in Le Plan du Castellet. The Mourvedre grape thrives on the Bandol terroir of rocky landscapes and hundred-year-old terraces. It is combined with Grenache to give the wine body and fruit, and with Cinsault which provides refinement and balance. The dark-colored Mourvedre gives the Bandol red wines their structure and elegance as well as their capacity to age well.

A classic Bandol, the 2022 Bandol Rose reveals stunning aromas of grapefruit, spring flowers, guava, lemon and iodine. The wine on the palate is medium to full-bodied, combining a fleshy core of fruit and racy acids with impressive substance on the finish. It needs a couple of years in bottle, but you can already see the potential. - Yohan Castaing