Cold winter weather is the perfect season to drink big, bold red wines. Bandol is a region in southern France that makes an unappreciated red wine made from the Mourvedre grape. Bandol is located near the Mediterranean between the towns of Marseille and Toulon. Although these red wines have been produced here for over 100 years, they are far less known than the wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. The wines from Bandol are not bashful; they are big meaty wines that can age for years. Bandols do not exhibit the finesse of a great Bordeaux or Burgundy in their youth; but they have the backbone and flavor to age beautifully. I might compare these wines to a huge Rhone wine with a touch of gaminess thrown in. Of all the Bandols we tasted, these were the favorites:
- Domaine Tempier 2000 – ($36)
- The favorite. This a rich, bold, deep red wine that is as smooth as velvet. Tons of fruit fill the palate, and it is perfectly balanced with spices, vanilla and a rustic earthiness. This wine could age for years, but with some decanting it would be delicious this weekend.
- Chateau Pradeaux 1998 – ($25)
- This was the oldest Bandol tasted, and it still had a lot of tannin. This wine is a blockbuster, very bold with layers of dark fruit, cinnamon and leather. Pradeaux is a favorite of Robert Parker, and would certainly be a candidate for the wine cellar.
- Domaine Gros Nore 2000 – ($17)
- This wine is lighter than the first two, but still exhibits that spiciness indicative of the mourvedre grape. Gros Nore is a powerful wine with a lot of forward fruit, pepper and cinnamon. An extremely dry wine that would match perfectly with a grilled steak.
Tags: Wine Tastings