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2023 Bandol Blanc
Domaine TempierIn the Tempier cellars—and in the Bandol appellation as a whole—white wine represents just 5% of the production. Vigneron Daniel Ravier crafts this Provençal rarity from Clairette, Ugni, Bourboulenc, Rolle, and Marsanne grown on terraced hillsides in a cooler corner of the AOC historically renowned for the quality of its Bandol blancs. These recently acquired vineyards now make up most of the blend, bringing a newfound energy to complement the sun-kissed fruit, while Daniel’s vinification in oak foudres accentuates length, structure, and what the French call verticalité.
Tempier’s blanc, with its delicate florals, subtle note of anise, and stony finish, tastes perfect alongside shellfish or grilled seafood. After a few years in your cellar, pair it with cheeses or serve it alone to appreciate what Daniel calls “honeyed and marine aromas” that develop with age.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2023 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 60% Clairette, 18% Ugni Blanc, 19% Bourboulenc, 3% Marsanne |
Appellation: | Bandol |
Country: | France |
Region: | Provence |
Producer: | Domaine Tempier |
Vineyard: | 1.6 ha, 20 years average |
Soil: | Clay, limestone |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 12.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2023 Bandol Rosé
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Embodying what Tempier is all about—celebration, gaiety, and delicious simplicity.
2021 Bandol Rouge “Lulu et Lucien”
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As Kermit wrote, “there is always something wild and unpredictable about it, spirited, shall we say, yet it is honest and impeccable, full of warmth and finesse.”
2021 Bandol Rouge“La Migoua”
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At the domaine's highest-elevation site, Mourvèdre's might is gently enveloped by Grenache and Cinsault to yield a Bandol of great finesse.
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At the domaine's highest-elevation site, Mourvèdre's might is gently enveloped by Grenache and Cinsault to yield a Bandol of great finesse.
2020 Bandol Rouge “Lulu et Lucien”
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With this chewy, fragrant cuvée, something garlicky cooked over coals will do just fine.
2021 Bandol Rouge“La Tourtine”
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There are few pleasures like aged Bandol rouge from Tempier.
2022 Bandol Rouge “Lulu et Lucien”
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As Kermit wrote, “there is always something wild and unpredictable about it, spirited, shall we say, yet it is honest and impeccable, full of warmth and finesse.”
2020 Bandol Rouge“La Migoua”
France | Provence
At the domaine's highest-elevation site, Mourvèdre's might is gently enveloped by Grenache and Cinsault to yield a Bandol of great finesse.
2022 Bandol Rouge “La Tourtine”
France | Provence
There are few pleasures like aged Bandol rouge from Tempier.
2020 Bandol Rouge“La Tourtine”
France | Provence
La Tourtine perhaps best expresses the paradoxical combination of power and elegance that is a trademark of the Domaine's wines.
About The Producer
Domaine Tempier
About The Region
Provence
There is perhaps no region more closely aligned with the history of Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant than Provence. While Kermit began his career as a Burgundy specialist, he soon fell in love with Provence and its wines, notably the legendary Bandols of Domaine Tempier, which he began importing in 1977. He later began living in the area part-time, returning frequently between tasting trips, and today he spends most of his time at his home just outside of Bandol.
Provence is thought to be France’s most ancient wine region, established when Greek settlers landed in the modern-day port city of Marseille in the 6th century BC. The conditions here are ideal for cultivation of the grapevine, with a hot, dry climate and a prevalence of poor, rocky soils, primarily limestone-based, suitable for vines and not much else. The ever-present southern sunshine as well as the mistral, a cold, drying wind from the northwest that helps keep the vines free of disease, are crucial elements of Provençal terroir. Wild herbs from the pervasive scrubland, called garrigue, and cooling saline breezes from the Mediterranean also contribute to the quality and character of wines in all three colors.
Provence is well known for its rosés, but red wines have always held importance here. The very best, such as those from Bandol, possess great depth and a capacity for long-term aging. The white wines, notably those of Cassis, offer weight balanced by a maritime freshness, making them ideal pairings for the local seafood. Mourvèdre reigns king for red grapes, supported mainly by Grenache and Cinsault, while Clairette, Marsanne, Rolle, and Ugni Blanc are the region’s principal white grapes.
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2019 Bandol Rouge
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2021 Côtes de Provence “Blanc de Blancs”
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2020 Bandol Rouge
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2021 Bandol Rouge
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2022 Bouches-du-Rhône Blanc “Baume Noire”
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Kermit once said...
Kermit once said...
Living wines have ups and downs just as people do, periods of glory and dog days, too. If wine did not remind me of real life, I would not care about it so much.