A birthday magnum

I have some friends coming around for dinner tonight to assist with the celebration of me becoming even more rancid and old. I thought I’d open a magnum of wine. Since the cooking is now pretty much complete I thought I’d pop the bottle early and write a tasting note now so I don’t have to write it up later. With wine this good it promises to be a fun night.

Bandol Cuvée Spéciale 1997 en magnum, Domaine Tempier

A lovely, complex nose of sweet, ripe fruit, grilled meat, under-growth and a degree of arsehole character. It really smells quite lovely and almost fully mature. The palate is surprisingly refined for a Bandol. It has plenty of fruit, good density and a silky tannic structure. The finish is very long and refined. It tastes perfectly mature yet still full of life and not in the least bit dried-out. This is quite an excellent magnum of Bandol that I think we will all enjoy with the daube I have cooked for dinner tonight.