Bandol Mourvedre

1988. My birth year. I dont remember much about that time of my life but this bottle wont be forgotten in the crevasses of time either.

What was striking was that this 35 year old still had some years left, some structure and still needed a few swirls to open. Boot leather and a really pleasant smoke scent came out. Mild baking spice, and dried fruit. Was totally enjoyable. Would love to have compared it to a younger version.

All of the garrigue. Tasted alongside the Longue Garde version but this was the superior wine for right now.

Detailed, sappy fruit. Berry compote. Wow, a total steal. Still could use at least 5 more years.

Popped and poured; no formal notes. Served out of a magnum for NYE dinner. Black and blue fruits with black pepper, dried herbs, leather and spices. Tannins are mostly integrated and there’s great balance. Unanimously fawned over by all at the table.

Seductive nose. Candied cherries, fresh black/red plum juice, garrigue, wild herbs. Juicy, bloody, intense on the palate, but the fruit is transparent and bright, and complicated by wonderful Provençal notes of olive and oregano. A wall of tannins on the finish, but the juiciness offsets it well. I think this will be a real winner with lots of time- probably not becoming approachable for a decade at least.

Silky, black plums, coffee, leather, low acid. Started to dry out a little by the end of the bottle. Losing steam a little but still enjoyable

Age is showing the game more prevalent in the nose. Tannic and still needs a few years. Be sure to decant and get good air to open up. Give it another five to soften. Dark plum, fig, blueberry. Game and a touch coffee and tar.

Deep, dark, rich, and chewy

Needed two days to really stretch its legs but by that time the tannin monster had also arrived. This bad boy is all kinds of crunchy red and dark fruits. Tannins on Day 1 were stiff but doable. Day 2 and they were positively punishing...but there was also more fruit on display along with a fantastic spine of minerals and acid that makes the finish seem to hang in there forever. And what incredible texture! There’s a phenolic thing that gives it a red rope licorice vibe to it. What a fun wine but these really need a weather balloon full of air if you’re thinking of drinking now.

Not giving a lot right now. A bit medicinal, but the stuffing is there. Too young, perhaps?