Paris-Marseille-Cassis-Bandol

This trip was an added-on to my work trip to Paris, which happily coincided with a long holiday in Thailand (Thai New Year Holiday aka Songkran). So, we decided to stay in France for an additional week to explore Paris and the South of France, starting from Marseille, Cassis, and Bandol. These are areas that always fascinated me as they seem very lovely from the photos yet the French are obsessed with spending time on Thai beaches! Kidding aside, I have been wanting to learn more about the wines from Provence and nearby appellations. So, after the work was done, we took the Oui-Go Train from CDG to Marseille, the journey took around 3.5 hours (would have been easily 8-9 hours drive by car). We then rented a tiny Fiat 500 to get us around to Aix, Cassis, and Bandol. All together a lovely and educational time down South.

• 2022 Jean Louis et Fabienne Mann Pinot Blanc Fly Me to the Moon 89 Points

  France, Alsace

  (4/13/2024)

  Biodynamic, 100% Pinot Blanc, abv 13%, bone dry
  Precise aromatics of lime, green apple, and white flowers. Palate is sharp with high acidity, dry, but with a balance of fruity notes showing Japanese melon, white peach, nectarine, almond. Refreshing finish. Goes well with ceviche and summer salade. 88-89.
  
  Drank at Ippon, Marseille.

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• 2021 Domaine Muller-Koeberle Schlossreben 90 Points

  France, Alsace

  (4/13/2024)

  Organic, blend of Gewurztraminer and Riesling from the vineyards of Chateau Le Schlossreben, granite soil, abv 13.5% aromatic dry.
  
  Aromatic nose showing yellow fruits (Thai mango, jack fruit, pineapple), with a balance of honeysuckle and Provencal rose petal.
  Palate is dry (love it when the contrast between the nose and the palate is noticeable), with medium plus plus acidity. Lots of orchard fruit characters and sense of wild honey.
  
  The Riesling blend shows well on the palate while Gewurz stars with the aromatics. 89-90.

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• 2020 Domaine Berry-Althoff Le Quai a Raisins Gard 87 Points

  France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Gard

  (4/13/2024)

  Belvédère 2020 75cl Vin de France Rouge
  
  Syrah and Grenache, abv 15%, gres and schist soil, elevated 12 months in oak barrel.
  
  Dark and opaque in color. Quite hot at the nose and on the palate, showing its 15% abv. Black cherry, plum, some black olive. Not quite coming together. 87.

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• 2023 E. Bodin Cassis 89 Points

  France, Provence, Cassis

  (4/14/2024)

  Blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Cinsault, 10% Clairette, Clay and limestone soil, Abv 13%
  
  Salmon pink colour. Full of flavors, medium plus acidity, good fruit. Notes of wild strawberry skin, watermelon, minerality of the sea, fresh juicy and refreshing finish. 89.
  
  Drank at Le petit Oyster Bar, Cassis

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• 2019 Château La Coste Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Les pentes douces 89 Points

  France, Provence, Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence

  (4/14/2024)

  Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, abv 14%, clay and limestone soil, elevated 14 months in oak barrel
  
  A serious wine that will be ready in 2-3 years. Currently, showing black currant, wild blackberries, licorice, some dark chocolate with anise and thyme.
  
  Good. 89.

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• 2023 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rosé 90 Points

  France, Provence, Cassis

  (4/15/2024)

  Blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, can keep for 3 years, separate vinification and fermentation.
  
  Refreshing rose from Cassis. Wild strawberry, watermelon, pomegranate, small cherry, mineral. Very good! 89-90.

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• 2023 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Blanc 89 Points

  France, Provence, Cassis

  (4/15/2024)

  Blend of Marsanne, Clairette, Ugni blanc, can keep for 5-10 years, separate vinification and fermentation.
  
  Flinty, mineral, peach, nectarine, textured but with some good acidity. Open up after a moment in the glass.
  89.

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• 2022 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Caganis 90 Points

  France, Provence, Cassis

  (4/15/2024)

  Blend of Marsanne, Clairetee, Ugni blanc, Pascal Blanc, Grenache Blanc, co-planting and co-fermentation, can keep for 5-10 years
  
  Very wild aromas. Waxy, crushed coriander leaf, fresh cut grass with big powerful fruity palate. Fruit is ripe with pineapple, melon, still grapey. Keep for 1-2 more years. This is great! 90.

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• 2020 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Cuvée Marquis de Fesques Blanc 89 Points

  France, Provence, Cassis

  (4/15/2024)

  Blend of Marsanne, Clairette, and Ugni blanc, all from special plots of at least 60 years old vines, separate vinification and fermentation.
  
  Not as exciting as Caganis but showing a lot of complexity with big characters that will be able to keep for a long time. Now it is a little shut in but lot of promises. 89+

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• 2021 Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Cuvée Marquis de Fesques 89 Points

  France, Provence, Cassis

  (4/15/2024)

  Blend of Mourvedre and Grenanche from special plots of at least 60 years old vines, separate vinification and fermentation
  
  Quite straightforward fruit forward wine with notes of cherry, raspberry, black current, and some black plum. This should come around in a couple of years and can be kept for 5 plus years. 89.

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• 2023 Domaine du Gros 'Noré Bandol Blanc 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  70% Ugni Blanc, 30% Clairette, well-ventilated clay soils on sunny hillsides
  White wine from Monsieur Alain Pascal is very well put together showing a softer touch in a supposedly hot year. Medium to medium plus acidity but have big palate presence to absorb all those acidic punches. 89.

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• 2022 Domaine du Gros 'Noré Bandol Rosé 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  54% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault, 19% Grenache, 2% Clairette, well-ventilated clay soils on sunny hillsides
  
  Bigger style of Rose than Cassis Rose. More fruit forward and denser midpalate. A more serious Rose in comparison. Fruity and lively. Good tension for the mouthfeel. Drink now or for a couple of years. 89.

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• 2018 Domaine du Gros 'Noré Bandol 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  80% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, 5% Cinsault, well-ventilated clay soils on sunny hillsides
  
  The wine is still big and tannic. Dark and black fruits. Quite peppery, meaty, savory, and smoky. Needs 3-5 more years for it to come together and enters its first drinkable phase. Hold. 89+

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• 2014 Domaine du Gros 'Noré Bandol 90 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  80% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, 5% Cinsault, well-ventilated clay soils on sunny hillsides
  
  10 years after the vintage. The wine starts to demonstrate its secondary characters - lots of new leather, cured meat qualities. Tannin is now more harmonious with soften fruity profiles of red and blue fruits. 90.

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• 1997 Domaine du Gros 'Noré Bandol 91 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  80% Mourvèdre, 15% Grenache, 5% Cinsault, well-ventilated clay soils on sunny hillsides.
  
  This one is a whole cluster fermentation, no destemming.
  
  Complex showing of secondary and tertiary notes. Black olive, prune, blackberry, cured meat, savory notes, pepper. 91.
  
  This is the first vintage of Mr Alain Pascal at du Gros Nore. It's a privilege of ours to meet him and be fed game paste on toast with home-made olive oil from him too!

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• 2015 Domaine du Gros 'Noré Bandol Cuvée Antoinette 91 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  95% Mourvèdre, 5% Cinsault/Grenache, well-ventilated clay soils on sunny hillsides
  
  This special cuvee marks the first vintage that Mr Pascal moved away from whole cluster fermentation to only 30% of stemmed bunches in the tank.
  
  This wines shows dense and dark fruit profile of cassis, sweet red fruit, ripe pear, red fruit confit, soft and integrated but clearly has a long way to go yet. This should be laid down for 2-3 more years and enjoyed over the next 2 decades. 91+

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• 2022 Domaine Tempier Bandol Blanc 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  60% Clairette, 18% Ugni Blanc, 19% Bourboulenc, 3% Marsanne
  Represented less than 10% of the total production. This wine is already sold out. Aromatic white that pairs well with variety of cuisines or serves as aperitif. 89.

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• 2023 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  55% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 20% Cinsault
  Complex but definitely more feminine than Gose Nore's Rose. Floral and red-fruited. Again, already sold out at the domaine.

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• 2021 Domaine Tempier Bandol Lulu & Lucien 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 2% Carignan
  House blended cuvee of the domaine. The biggest quantity among all cuvees. Tannic and red fruit driven. This needs at least 10 years in the cellar to really show its potential. 89+

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• 2021 Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  50% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache, 26% Cinsault, 4% Syrah
  Powerful, tannic, warm blue fruited, almost confit like fruit. Only around 4,000 bottles produced. Again, like all Tempier's red, this one needs a lot more time. Ready by 2031. 89+

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• 2021 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cabassaou 90 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  95% Mourvèdre, 4% Syrah, 1% Cinsault
  Even bigger and more powerful than Migoua and probably the biggest wine in the line up. Black fruit, coffee bean, grippy tannin. I really don't know if this one will ever soften up. Come back in 15-20 years, so first drinking window starts around 2036. 90+?

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• 2021 Domaine Tempier Bandol La Tourtine 89 Points

  France, Provence, Bandol

  (4/15/2024)

  80% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, 10% Cinsault
  This one expresses more its oak barrel influence than its fruit at this stage. Lots of vanilla, toasty oak type note currently. I would give this 5 more years to come around. 89+

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• 2021 Domaine Hauvette Alpilles Roucas 89 Points

  France, Provence, Alpilles

  (4/15/2024)

  Abv 12%
  The most Burgundian-like red wine of this trip. Fresh, crisp, garrique, cherry, and Provencal herbs. Definitely will evolve with time but very refreshing to drink now a little chilled with seafood and charcuteries. 89.

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• 2022 Château La Borie Côtes du Rhône Villages 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône Villages

  (4/16/2024)

  Cote du Rhone Villages APO, 52% Grenache, 42% Syrah, abv 13%
  Fresh purple appearance. Nose shows red fruit mixed with cooking spice, licorice, and chocolate. Palate has a good tension, balance of fruit and oak. Very agreeable house wine at a restaurant that is so dear to my heart. 88.

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• 2019 Bordeaux Families Cabernet Sauvignon Sauv'Terre 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux

  (4/16/2024)

  100% Cabernet Sauvignon, abv 14%
  Pure Cabernet Sauvignon from Bordeaux area is a rarity. Red fruited, stemmy, black olive, tobacco leaf, tiny sense of bell pepper. Structured and juicy. Quaffable and different. 88-89.

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