Domaine Tempier
Cuvée Spéciale La Tourtine Bandol Mourvedre Blend
Bandol, Provence, France
1998. The last of a case, and drunk with La Migoua of the same vintage, also the last of a case. La Tourtine has a higher percentage of Mourvedre (maybe 80%) and about about 10% each of Cinsault and Grenache, plus a dash of Syrah. This was lighter in colour, red fading to orange with a hint of brown, and initially more reticent on the nose. Like the Migoua, it evolved massively over several hours, and more than once I was questioning whether I'd poured the wrong wine into the wrong glass. (I hadn't.) Ultimately, I preferred the precision in the Tourtine, its fresheness and its subtle blend of black cherry, frangipani, citric peel, and apples maybe just turning to cider. One could very easily have called it as a Barolo. These impressions on the nose translated very nicely onto the palate, and there was just the right amount of acidity to sear the flavours into the memory. Such a great privilege to try these two cuvees side by side in their 20th year.
1998. The last of a case, and drunk with La Migoua of the same vintage, also the last of a case. La Tourtine has a higher percentage of Mourvedre (maybe 80%) and about about 10% each of Cinsault and Grenache, plus a dash of Syrah. This was lighter in colour, red fading to orange with a hint of brown, and initially more reticent on the nose. Like the Migoua, it evolved massively over several hours, and more than once I was questioning whether I'd poured the wrong wine into the wrong glass. (I hadn't.) Ultimately, I preferred the precision in the Tourtine, its fresheness and its subtle blend of black cherry, frangipani, citric peel, and apples maybe just turning to cider. One could very easily have called it as a Barolo. These impressions on the nose translated very nicely onto the palate, and there was just the right amount of acidity to sear the flavours into the memory. Such a great privilege to try these two cuvees side by side in their 20th year.
Jan 28th, 2018