Tasting Notes

W&S94

Since Daniel Ravier took over winemaking at Tempier in 2000, he’s cleaned the old barrels and moved the winery from organic farming toward biodynamics, but otherwise his style holds firmly to the one Lucian Peyraud established after acquiring the estate in 1940. He blends Tempier’s basic Bandol from various terroirs within the estate’s 98 acres, adding a little grenache, cinsault and carignan to the mourvèdre that makes up three-quarters of the wine. The 2014 is dark and earthy, with chocolate density to the plummy fruit and pleasantly gravelly tannins. As it takes on air, notes of garrigue and roasted meat appear, as well as an acidity that recalls plum skin in its firmness and crunch. If you open it now, decant it an hour before serving; it should age well over the next five to ten years.

RP89–92

An impressive barrel sample, the 2014 Bandol Cuvee Classique shows surprising depth and concentration in the vintage. Notes of dark fruits, mineral and peppery, Provencal herbs all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure, elegant 2014 that should drink reasonably well on release. Range: 89-92

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