2014 Bandol Rose

Arguably one of the greatest rosé of the world and for a long, long time. Aromas of strawberry and wild chrysanthemum. Very complex nose. Full body, layered texture with some phenolic tension. Lots of subtle mineral and strawberry flavors. Drink now.

Domaine Tempier's 2014 Bandol Rose continue to show why it's considered one of the best rosés in the world. Made with a hefty chunky of Mourvedre, it offers beautifully crisp and precise notes of orange blossom, crushed rock, mineral water and white flower that flow seamlessly to a medium-bodied, balanced, lively and fresh style on the palate. While this doesn't have the heft of sheer fruit of a top Tavel, it has more tension and focus, and I suspect it will put on weight with another 3-4 months in bottle. In short, it's a beautiful Bandol rosé that delivers everything you could want from a rosé. It has the juiciness and freshness to drink nicely on its own or at the start of a meal, as well as the complexity and depth to handle any number of richer foods.

Pale salmon. Fresh, pretty and smoky on the nose. Very well composed and spreads across the palate. Tight acid on the end and some astringency but all making an energetic young wine. Well done but maybe more winery than vineyard dominated? (JR)