2022 Domaine Tempier - Bandol Rouge Tourtine (750ml)

Domaine Tempier traces its identity to Lucie "Lulu" Peyraud, who married Lucien Peyraud in 1936 and brought him into a family property that had belonged to her relatives since 1834. Lucien spent decades championing the replanting of Mourvèdre across Bandol and helped establish the region as an official appellation in 1941, laying the groundwork for the estate's reputation. Today the domaine continues under Daniel Ravier's direction, farmed organically with biodynamic practices and a continued emphasis on structured, terroir-driven reds.

La Tourtine comes from a single parcel of about five and a half hectares set on terraced limestone with notable clay topsoil, positioned on a warm, south-facing stretch of the estate's main slope. The vines here average roughly forty years of age, and the 2022 blend leans heavily on Mourvèdre, rounded out with small portions of Grenache and Cinsault. Grapes are picked by hand, fermented in concrete vats, and the wine spends about eighteen months aging in large oak before bottling.

The 2022 vintage opens with dark berry fruit, garrigue and baking spice, joined by violet and floral high notes as it airs out. The palate carries iron-tinged minerality and a savory, salty edge, with refined tannins giving structure without heaviness. It suits grilled lamb, dishes cooked over charcoal with garlic, or aged sheep's milk cheeses.