### Cellar Favourite: 2012

### Domaine Tempier

### 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 [Lorne](https://vinous.com/articles/vinous-table-lorne-london-uk-aug-2022), 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.

![](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._



Cellar Favorite: 2012 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Classique

Cellar Favorite: 2012 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Classique (May 2025)

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