We’d suggest that truly transcendent wine should be transportive in two ways. First, it should transport you to its origins. With each sip you’re experiencing the sparklingly clear expression of its home, even if you’ve never been there – the smell of the air, the character of the land, the sun and the soils. And secondly, it should transport you to a more elevated state of being. With each encounter, the wine challenges and piques your senses, expands your mind and opens your emotions. This is the hard part, and something very few wines in the world manage to achieve. The wines of Domaine Tempier in Bandol, particularly once they have had some time in the cellar, are routinely in this camp.
We have deep admiration for a great many wines imported by Kermit Lynch. Kermit is no stranger to many of the world’s most legendary wines and has championed countless examples on our shores over the years. In his memoir, Adventures on the Wine Route, he devotes nearly an entire chapter to Domaine Tempier and the Peyraud family who own it, mentioning that he owns “more bottles of Domaine Tempier’s bold-tasting, soulful red than any other single wine.” Considering the myriad of exceptional wines in his portfolio that would vie for that position, it’s serious praise that it belongs to this Provencal red.
Today we’re focusing on their white & reds, though their legendary rosé also deserves a special search when it is released in the summer. Tempier Blanc is made from mostly Clairette and Ugni Blanc, with splashes of Rolle, Bourboulenc, and Marsanne. It’s a waxy, floral, pithy wine that will turn honeyed and savory as it ages. On the red side, Bandol is the home of Mourvedre’s most complete expression, and the grape serves as the backbone in each of these wines. Mourvedre has a reputation as a grape of impressive structure and power, and the Tempier reds are certainly not shrinking violets. What sets them apart, though, is their ability to channel all their inherent gusto with an unmistakable grace. They are full of strength and sinew without being brash, wild yet refined.
Their “Classique” red blends fruit from across the property, and is made of ¾ Mourvedre with varying proportions of Grenache and Cinsault, as well as a touch of Carignan & Syrah. This will drink well young with a decant alongside hearty food and reward a decade or more of cellaring. La Migoua is about half Mourvedre filled out with Cinsault, Grenache and Syrah, from a complex and especially rocky site planted at around 300M. This regularly displays the most overt aromatics and charm of the three single-site wines. La Tourtine is ~85% Mourvedre supplemented with Grenache & Cinsault, from a sunny site balanced by the cooling winds of the Mistral. Here you find density and intensity, a wine that demands cellaring but richly rewards it.
If you’ve yet to experience the joys of these singular wines, you’ll want to correct that immediately. If you already have, take a cue from Kermit and keep your cellar properly stocked.
The bottles below are offered on a first come, first served basis. Follow the links below to purchase directly from our site or call/email us if you need some assistance.
Cheers, |
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