Musing on Bandol

I’m currently drinking a bottle of Bandol La Tourtine 2001 from Domaine Tempier, even though it is 15% I really like it. Tempier has long been my favourite producer of Bandol. La Tourtine was always my favourite of the two Tempier vineyards. Oddly I feel vaguely guilty that I now prefer La Miguoa; it is my more aromatic, elegant and refined. I feel even more guilty to admit that I now think Chateau Pibarnon is better than Tempier. I’ve had a lot of quite old vintages of Pibarnon in recent years and they have been completely lovely. Pibarnon is the cat’s breakfast as far as Bandol goes.

On a related note, I have to say once again that I consider Bandol not only better value than Chateauneuf du Papes but they are usually better wines. There is a lot of good Bandol out there and most are reasonably priced.