Medium red, no tawny. Clean bright fruit, some earth, licorice spice, leather. Ripe dark fruits, cassis, mulberry, leather, fine furry tannins. Still quite youthful, has a nice pure leathery edge, nothing barnyard, just earth and black berries. Very impressive for its age. Great drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
full, powerful taste, not corked but hint of a corky taste in it. For this money, I've had much better Mourvedre wines (from Spain, for instance), Bandol is not really known for its good price/quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Best Tempier I've had in a while. No formal notes. WOTN for most. Decanted for an hour and it was ready to go but was still gently improving by the end of the decanter i.e. 30 more minutes. Such a pleasure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bought 3 X bottles from a fairly shady auction and cracked this to see if I should weep at my own idiocy. Cork broke in half (note to self: this tends to happen with older Tempiers) but I managed to get it out. Cloudy upon hitting the glass, not a good sign. Sediment in even the first glass. Restrained aromas, no sign of heat upon first sip -- which seemed flat, and then really bad. Like: vinegar bad. However I had the same thing happen with an '81, so I let it sit an hour. Ah, there we go. No formal notes, as this was consumed with a bunch of friends and strangers over the course of a fundraiser, but it was neither magnificent nor a disaster -- went from "not offensive" to "say, this is pretty good." Better notes next time, I promise. I have zero idea how this was stored, but the fill was just into the neck. Obviously still has some time left on it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was extremely understated. Components thoroughly integrated still solid structure and decent length. Unfortunately bottle just seemed muted on the palate both from lack of texture and secondary flavors. Could be just age of this bottle although I have had much better, much older bottles of mouvedre. Anyway was enjoyable with lamb chops but not up to typical Tempier performance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 3 hours. Dense cherry red. In the nose lots of leather, juniper berries, dark cherry. In the mouth, there's leather again, the tannins are still quite tight despite the longish decant, also the acidity is marked. Nonetheless, this is fine and transparent in nature. Slightly brittle tannins in the long finish. This is good, but it still seems quite young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pure, perfect Tempier/Tourtine with earthy, dark nose and mouth. Tannins mostly resolved -- drinks very well now, but no hurry to finish. So much for those who said that the Peyraud brothers weren't making good wine just before Ravier took over.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On opening, a little bit thin and backward, so I decanted it. Drank 1 hour later by which time it had started to open out. Great structure but not a lot of fruit. Very enjoyable indeed
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent color. Aromatic with very lovely red fruit. A certain watermelon quality. Delicate but lovely. Dep yet ethereal flavor. This is special in a way only a Bandol can be. This is very fresh yet clearly at its apogee, can last but why wait? 4-13-16-7: 90/100
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Accessible on the nose. Leather, herbs, spices. Medium bodied on the palate, a bit drying finish which prevents a higher rating. At peak but no hurry. Cork in perfect condition. Needs decanting, at least for 1 to 2 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Now this is more in the leathery, meaty zone as far as expressions of Bandol go. Not short on ripe but mature dark fruit, though, and it pulses with vigorous earthy complexity. It does seem accessible on the nose, but not as suggestively open and welcoming as the Miguoa. Even though this is 12 years old there is still more than a shade of rigour to the tannic structure. That being said I think the harmony is just fine, as there is an abundance of dark fruit and rich minerality keeping things balanced and enjoyable. If you like classic expressions of high Mourvedre-content Bandol you would be pleased as chips to try this, and chuffed as punch if you kept it for a few more years. Great stuff, I can totally understand the view I held when first I encountered Bandol that La Tourtine was the best one could get.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Previous bottle must have been flawed. This one was a delight from start (poured into a decanter and straight into a big glass) to finish (3 hours later). It started full but with the tannins quite prevalent, plenty of fruit but a very dry finish. Three hours later - big full and fat and lasting so long in the mouth - a real treat and I finished it all! I'd say at its peak now and dont wait too long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted just before drinking, then tasted over about 6 hours. Over-ripe fruit on the nose - not unpleasant and quite rich. Leathery farmyardy in the mouth, long, completely balanced but I don't think this will get better now and I'm going to drink mine up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
High toned, spicy phenolics on opening. Some animale, mixed with black cherry in the mouth. The volitile acids blow off, but the nose remains high toned with violet and rose petal florals. The tannins are ripe with good acidity. Very nice wine, with plenty left for continued aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/23/2021 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium red, no tawny.
Clean bright fruit, some earth, licorice spice, leather.
Ripe dark fruits, cassis, mulberry, leather, fine furry tannins. Still quite youthful, has a nice pure leathery edge, nothing barnyard, just earth and black berries. Very impressive for its age. Great drinking.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/18/2018 - WarnerNL Likes this wine: 89 Points
full, powerful taste, not corked but hint of a corky taste in it. For this money, I've had much better Mourvedre wines (from Spain, for instance), Bandol is not really known for its good price/quality.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2018 - Dury Likes this wine: 94 Points
Best Tempier I've had in a while. No formal notes. WOTN for most. Decanted for an hour and it was ready to go but was still gently improving by the end of the decanter i.e. 30 more minutes. Such a pleasure.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/5/2017 - jim dixon wrote: 92 Points
Better than the 99 Migoua that we recently had. That had some VA. This is pure aged Mourvèdre goodness even though the cork looked a bit dodgy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/2016 - ledocq Likes this wine:
Bought 3 X bottles from a fairly shady auction and cracked this to see if I should weep at my own idiocy. Cork broke in half (note to self: this tends to happen with older Tempiers) but I managed to get it out. Cloudy upon hitting the glass, not a good sign. Sediment in even the first glass. Restrained aromas, no sign of heat upon first sip -- which seemed flat, and then really bad. Like: vinegar bad. However I had the same thing happen with an '81, so I let it sit an hour. Ah, there we go. No formal notes, as this was consumed with a bunch of friends and strangers over the course of a fundraiser, but it was neither magnificent nor a disaster -- went from "not offensive" to "say, this is pretty good." Better notes next time, I promise. I have zero idea how this was stored, but the fill was just into the neck. Obviously still has some time left on it.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2016 - JBVino wrote:
This bottle was extremely understated. Components thoroughly integrated still solid structure and decent length. Unfortunately bottle just seemed muted on the palate both from lack of texture and secondary flavors. Could be just age of this bottle although I have had much better, much older bottles of mouvedre. Anyway was enjoyable with lamb chops but not up to typical Tempier performance.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2015 - octopussy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Dense cherry red. In the nose lots of leather, juniper berries, dark cherry. In the mouth, there's leather again, the tannins are still quite tight despite the longish decant, also the acidity is marked. Nonetheless, this is fine and transparent in nature. Slightly brittle tannins in the long finish. This is good, but it still seems quite young.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2014 - cfk49 wrote: 92 Points
Classic Mourvèdre animality medium-weight, just short of being hot, but good richness, smoothness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/27/2014 - cfk49 wrote: 92 Points
Funky Mourvèdre dark fruit with good underlying acidity.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2013 - cfk49 wrote: 93 Points
Pure, perfect Tempier/Tourtine with earthy, dark nose and mouth. Tannins mostly resolved -- drinks very well now, but no hurry to finish. So much for those who said that the Peyraud brothers weren't making good wine just before Ravier took over.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2013 - johneagle Likes this wine: 90 Points
On opening, a little bit thin and backward, so I decanted it. Drank 1 hour later by which time it had started to open out. Great structure but not a lot of fruit. Very enjoyable indeed
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2012 - MicklethePickle wrote: 90 Points
Excellent color. Aromatic with very lovely red fruit. A certain watermelon quality. Delicate but lovely. Dep yet ethereal flavor. This is special in a way only a Bandol can be. This is very fresh yet clearly at its apogee, can last but why wait? 4-13-16-7: 90/100
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2012 - costamalfitana wrote: 90 Points
Accessible on the nose. Leather, herbs, spices. Medium bodied on the palate, a bit drying finish which prevents a higher rating. At peak but no hurry. Cork in perfect condition. Needs decanting, at least for 1 to 2 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/7/2012 - johneagle wrote:
I thought this bottle was a little hard and unyielding. It seemed a little short of fruit. Opened at 1300 and drunk about an hour later
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/22/2011 - David Strange wrote:
Now this is more in the leathery, meaty zone as far as expressions of Bandol go. Not short on ripe but mature dark fruit, though, and it pulses with vigorous earthy complexity. It does seem accessible on the nose, but not as suggestively open and welcoming as the Miguoa. Even though this is 12 years old there is still more than a shade of rigour to the tannic structure. That being said I think the harmony is just fine, as there is an abundance of dark fruit and rich minerality keeping things balanced and enjoyable. If you like classic expressions of high Mourvedre-content Bandol you would be pleased as chips to try this, and chuffed as punch if you kept it for a few more years. Great stuff, I can totally understand the view I held when first I encountered Bandol that La Tourtine was the best one could get.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2011 - johneagle wrote: 92 Points
Previous bottle must have been flawed. This one was a delight from start (poured into a decanter and straight into a big glass) to finish (3 hours later). It started full but with the tannins quite prevalent, plenty of fruit but a very dry finish. Three hours later - big full and fat and lasting so long in the mouth - a real treat and I finished it all! I'd say at its peak now and dont wait too long.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2011 - johneagle wrote: 90 Points
Double decanted just before drinking, then tasted over about 6 hours. Over-ripe fruit on the nose - not unpleasant and quite rich. Leathery farmyardy in the mouth, long, completely balanced but I don't think this will get better now and I'm going to drink mine up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - marc d wrote:
High toned, spicy phenolics on opening. Some animale, mixed with black cherry in the mouth. The volitile acids blow off, but the nose remains high toned with violet and rose petal florals. The tannins are ripe with good acidity. Very nice wine, with plenty left for continued aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2009 - NickM wrote: 89 Points
Good solid wine, cannot remember details
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment