My, that is a big one

I am a big fan of Bandol, they are lovely when they are old. They can also be quite a lot of fun when they are young. 2001 was a great vintage for Bandol, but some of the wines have been a bit big. This wine is certainly a biggie.

Bandol 2001, Domaine du Gros-Noré

A rich nose of stewed fruit, this is very ripe. This is so rich in ripe fruit and alcohol that is almost smells like a young port. It does have some Mourvedre meatiness, but it remains reasonably clean. The palate is powerfully fruity, but has quite a rigorous backbone of tannin. This is big but not soupy. The finish is reasonably long, but it doesn’t seem overly complex. This is a perfectly good drink, but it is not really top-flight Bandol. Pibarnon and Tempier make more complex, interesting wines