We brought this back from the winery a couple of years ago. I don't have any experience with older Bandol wines, but this was delicious. There is a nice balance of darker toned fruit, some mellow, aged savory notes, and an overall elegance to the wine. I only brought back one of this vintage, unfortunately, but I am looking forward to trying some of the other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite pale and obviously rather developed figgy color with mature mahogany hue and pale, brick-orange rim. The nose feels very developed and somewhat oxidized with rather sweet aromas of molasses, raisins, some wizened dark fruits, a little bit of ripe cassis, a nutty hint of tawny port and touches of prunes and raisins. On the palate the wine feels ripe, suave and full-bodied with very smooth mouthfeel. There are quite aged flavors of ripe plummy fruits and prunes, some raisiny character, a little bit of leather, an umami hint of meat stock and a touch of smoky character. The wine is moderate in acidity, but the tannins start to feel fully resolved and very soft, not contributing much to the structure nor to the texture. The complex finish is smooth and aged with nuanced, mature flavors of raisiny fruit, some caramelly Tawny Port character, a little bit of prune, a hint of leather and a sappy touch of leafy sous-bois.
Better to drink up. The wine is obviously at the end of its life and although it is still very classic and enjoyable as an old Bandol, it is starting to slip slowly down from its plateau of maturity. The difference between this and the much younger Pibarnon 1996 that was drunk alongside was remarkable. Fortunately this wine pulled itself together after a few moments in a glass: the wine felt very tired and almost dead at first right after pouring, but once the fruit and other tertiary aromas woke up and started to show their head, the wine came back to life and turned out to be very enjoyable. Fortunately this wine was drunk now and not in the future - there's really nothing to be gained in further aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Late Sep 2014: decanted; full violet-red; no bouquet, even after prolonged waiting time; minor fruit flavors in the mouth; medium/full body; smooth texture.
Where have all the flavors gone. Long time passing?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
deep in color but bricking around the edges, complex bouquet involving ash, wet tree bark, flowers and cherry, dry, tannins have softened but the masculine palate still goes into beast mode, iron, beef blood, dried herbs and a hint of plum sauce, achieves character as well as being delightful to drink, look for gamey red meat to match
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful aromas of fennel, capsicum, musk, cigar ash, and even a bit of a floral note. I don't get a lot of funk associated with this producer/region. In the mouth, the wine has shed its tannins and seems rather weightless considering the nose. Paired best with food imo. The wine is drinking perfectly now, but should hold beautifully for another 5-10.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opaque garnet purple in color. Deep, brooding, and reticent at first. With about 1/2hr of air, it finally opened up to a bouquet of red and black cherries, licorice, dust, blood iron, and the classic garrigue spice aromas. This monster just kept powering on. Purchased on release and stored in my cellar since, this wine could easily go another 10+ yrs if stored properly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Après 4 heures d'ouverture: Superbe nez, complexe, de figues et d'épices.Bouche: très belle attaque, de beaux arômes mais qui s'estompent assez rapidement et laissent une finale plutôt sèche, tannique.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner with friends (2xChampagne, Vouvray, Bandol, Bourgueil, Alsace) (Jonathan and Samantha's): (With the lamb) The purple of youth has given way to a dusty red, but this is still pretty deep and solid to the rim. In the decanter, it gives off an immediate scent of the south – sunny herbs, warm earth, and berry fruit. In the glass (about two hours after decanting), the same sunny south is there, along with a little clay dust and a bit of the mourvedre funk (but just a touch). With time, there are hints anise and pine forest as well. Pleasantly soft, smooth entry shows dark berry fruit with just enough acid to keep it bright. Nice full and expanding mid-palate with more of the same fruit and a little mineral and dust to boot. Finish has good length, a touch of spice, a slight touch of remaining dusty tannin. Great showing from a less than heralded vintage and a screaming statement of Provence that just goes perfectly with the lamb. Two great matches in a row.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
3/15/2024 - Outplaying Likes this wine:
We brought this back from the winery a couple of years ago. I don't have any experience with older Bandol wines, but this was delicious. There is a nice balance of darker toned fruit, some mellow, aged savory notes, and an overall elegance to the wine. I only brought back one of this vintage, unfortunately, but I am looking forward to trying some of the other vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2017 - forceberry wrote: 93 Points
Quite pale and obviously rather developed figgy color with mature mahogany hue and pale, brick-orange rim. The nose feels very developed and somewhat oxidized with rather sweet aromas of molasses, raisins, some wizened dark fruits, a little bit of ripe cassis, a nutty hint of tawny port and touches of prunes and raisins. On the palate the wine feels ripe, suave and full-bodied with very smooth mouthfeel. There are quite aged flavors of ripe plummy fruits and prunes, some raisiny character, a little bit of leather, an umami hint of meat stock and a touch of smoky character. The wine is moderate in acidity, but the tannins start to feel fully resolved and very soft, not contributing much to the structure nor to the texture. The complex finish is smooth and aged with nuanced, mature flavors of raisiny fruit, some caramelly Tawny Port character, a little bit of prune, a hint of leather and a sappy touch of leafy sous-bois.
Better to drink up. The wine is obviously at the end of its life and although it is still very classic and enjoyable as an old Bandol, it is starting to slip slowly down from its plateau of maturity. The difference between this and the much younger Pibarnon 1996 that was drunk alongside was remarkable. Fortunately this wine pulled itself together after a few moments in a glass: the wine felt very tired and almost dead at first right after pouring, but once the fruit and other tertiary aromas woke up and started to show their head, the wine came back to life and turned out to be very enjoyable. Fortunately this wine was drunk now and not in the future - there's really nothing to be gained in further aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/22/2014 - Fatty Cat wrote: 86 Points
Late Sep 2014: decanted; full violet-red; no bouquet, even after prolonged waiting time; minor fruit flavors in the mouth; medium/full body; smooth texture.
Where have all the flavors gone. Long time passing?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2013 - ggormezano Likes this wine: 92 Points
drink up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2013 - whits Likes this wine: 92 Points
deep in color but bricking around the edges, complex bouquet involving ash, wet tree bark, flowers and cherry, dry, tannins have softened but the masculine palate still goes into beast mode, iron, beef blood, dried herbs and a hint of plum sauce, achieves character as well as being delightful to drink, look for gamey red meat to match
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2011 - pll4 wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful aromas of fennel, capsicum, musk, cigar ash, and even a bit of a floral note. I don't get a lot of funk associated with this producer/region. In the mouth, the wine has shed its tannins and seems rather weightless considering the nose. Paired best with food imo. The wine is drinking perfectly now, but should hold beautifully for another 5-10.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2011 - bigwineguy420 wrote: 92 Points
Opaque garnet purple in color. Deep, brooding, and reticent at first. With about 1/2hr of air, it finally opened up to a bouquet of red and black cherries, licorice, dust, blood iron, and the classic garrigue spice aromas. This monster just kept powering on. Purchased on release and stored in my cellar since, this wine could easily go another 10+ yrs if stored properly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/26/2010 - vinojuve wrote: 89 Points
Après 4 heures d'ouverture: Superbe nez, complexe, de figues et d'épices.Bouche: très belle attaque, de beaux arômes mais qui s'estompent assez rapidement et laissent une finale plutôt sèche, tannique.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2005 - jrufusj wrote:
Dinner with friends (2xChampagne, Vouvray, Bandol, Bourgueil, Alsace) (Jonathan and Samantha's): (With the lamb)
The purple of youth has given way to a dusty red, but this is still pretty deep and solid to the rim. In the decanter, it gives off an immediate scent of the south – sunny herbs, warm earth, and berry fruit. In the glass (about two hours after decanting), the same sunny south is there, along with a little clay dust and a bit of the mourvedre funk (but just a touch). With time, there are hints anise and pine forest as well. Pleasantly soft, smooth entry shows dark berry fruit with just enough acid to keep it bright. Nice full and expanding mid-palate with more of the same fruit and a little mineral and dust to boot. Finish has good length, a touch of spice, a slight touch of remaining dusty tannin. Great showing from a less than heralded vintage and a screaming statement of Provence that just goes perfectly with the lamb. Two great matches in a row.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/21/1998 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 85 Points
BEVMO TASTING-10 GREAT WINES (BevMo, Walnut Creek, Ca.): More intense, concentrated than the Tempier today, masculine, tight, could develop.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment