I got this bargain Bandol, made by a co-op of growers, from Last Bottle for a song, and it’s surprisingly good. 95% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignane. Nose is densely fruity, with freshly-crushed blackberry and other unidentifiable (to me) berries, with a pleasant slight vegetal note, along with some sweet spice and warm gravel. Loads of dark fruit in the mouth, along with some tree-barkey, leathery notes. The initial mouthfeel is soft and dense, and quite fruity, but the tannins progress into the finish, which shows some dark minerality and a slight bitter component (not unpleasant). For a slightly rustic and gutsy weeknight red, this is a great choice.
I got this bargain Bandol, made by a co-op of growers, from Last Bottle for a song, and it’s surprisingly good. 95% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignane. Nose is densely fruity, with freshly-crushed blackberry and other unidentifiable (to me) berries, with a pleasant slight vegetal note, along with some sweet spice and warm gravel. Loads of dark fruit in the mouth, along with some tree-barkey, leathery notes. The initial mouthfeel is soft and dense, and quite fruity, but the tannins progress into the finish, which shows some dark minerality and a slight bitter component (not unpleasant). For a slightly rustic and gutsy weeknight red, this is a great choice.
Oct 3rd, 2023
Bandol, Provence, France
