Cellar
Favourite: 2012&nbsp;Domaine Tempier&nbsp;Bandol Cuvée Classique

BY NEAL
MARTIN | MAY 5, 2025

Most
beautiful region in France? The one I would most like to return to? Bandol.
It’s a gem of a wine region with a treasure trove of great wines and producers.
The most renowned of all is Domaine Tempier, which has been under the directorship
of Daniel Ravier since 2000. During a recent dinner at <a target="_blank" href="https://vinous.com/articles/vinous-table-lorne-london-uk-aug-2022">Lorne</a>, one of my
favourite restaurants in London, I spotted a bottle of 2012 Bandol Cuvée
Classique on the single-bottle selection at the back of their wine list. It
was a no-brainer. <img alt="" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.vinous.com/uploads%2F1746453457231-CF_05052025.jpg"> This
cuvée is a blend of parcels on limestone and sandy marl soils, comprising three-quarters
Mourvèdre, the remainder Grenache and Cinsault with a seasoning of Syrah and
Carignan. It was fermented in concrete tanks and aged for a minimum of 18
months in large old oak casks. Quite deep in hue, it has a quintessential
Bandol bouquet: mulberry, wild heather and a scintilla of old medicine cabinet,
one that hasn’t been opened for a couple of years. Later, there are hints of
sloe, pain d’épices and hung game. The palate is beautifully balanced, with
real depth and roundness, the acidity keeping it on its toes. Again, there is a
very subtle medicinal touch that gives away Mourvèdre. This fans out in assured
fashion towards the savoury finish, its underlying sapidity asking you, “More?”
This is a pertinent reminder of great Bandol, and given that the 2012 is
already 13 years old, I can see it motoring along nicely for another two
decades. 92/Drink 2025-2045.© 2025, Vinous. No portion of this article may be copied, shared or redistributed without prior consent from Vinous. Doing so is not only a violation of our copyright but also threatens the survival of independent wine criticism.

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