Provence lies in the south east corner of France. But premium rosé is changing the category, offering complex styles derived from intriguing grape blends, barrel ageing and – in the case of Clos Cibonne’s Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes – vinification under a layer of flor. Challenge: Name what some have termed the five “noble wines” of France and Italy—those special regions whose depth, expression, tradition, and class have historically set the gold standard for distinguished wines and up-and-comers alike. Top 75 French Wines to Try Before You Quit Drinking (a non-dump bucket list if you will! The Bandol appellation produces a high proportion of rose wines (64%), and a small proportion of white wines (up to 5%). From gently-hued Provençal-style rosés to accompany salads and lighter dishes, to brighter and spicier examples robust enough to stand up to richer, more flavourful foods, there is a rosé for every occasion. The Fourth of July witnessed blistering temperatures around California, and this time the Bay Area was no exception. If you had your pick of noble wine at a fraction of the price of Burgundy, Barolo or Brunello, you’d keep it quiet too. All are usually of very good to outstanding quality, and are some of Bandol… Cabernet Franc’s Lighter Shade. Rose’s are made around the world, but, when I think Rosé, I think Provence, France. The most enjoyable bottle of wine I ever had (not necessarily the best) was at an outdoor sidewalk café called La Piazza in Cannes France. With an average price of $7, Mateus is easily the most inexpensive wine on this list. Pair it with a niçoise salad. 10 Of The Best Loafers For Going Sockless, The Best Men's Fragrances For Warmer Weather, The Sweatshirts That Will Keep You Big And Cozy. de TerrebruneFood pairings: Provencal cuisine fixed with spices, garlic, rosemary, olives, tomatoes; grilled lamb and other richly flavored red meats.Where to find it: In the Bay Area—Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants, Paul Marcus Wines, K&L Wines, Vintage Berkeley; in Chicagoland—Binny’s Beverage Depot; Online--www.binnys.com, www.klwines.comPrice: $20-40. Fortunately, the considerable pride with which Bandol winemakers view their bottlings doesn’t tend to infect their hospitality or largesse. $28. And then, staring deep into my soul: “Forbidden.” While I don’t recommend opening a 2001 Bandol anytime within the next few years, other vintages are worth trying soon, even if they might improve with age. du Pibanon, Ch. Summertime is finally about here. While the rosé of Bandol is fantastic, Braun is especially drawn to the region’s reds. Then again, perhaps our Provencal and Provencophile friends purposefully “forget” to mention Bandol when regaling us of the virtues of the Côte d’Azur, hoping we might unwittingly blip past the spectacular hillside vineyards of le Beausset and le Castellet while zipping from bouillabaisse in Marseille to casinos in Monte Carlo. Pure class. Contact me at [email protected]. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. Visiting wine country? Bandol winemakers are committed to producing wines of the highest quality. Expect strawberry, melon and rose aromas and a satisfying mouth-coating from the gentle tannins. The fifth noble wine poses a greater challenge—one that may well stump even the savviest among us. And here are some of our favourites, both still and sparkling. Bandol, unlike most of its Provencal neighbors, produces serious vins de garde. Bandol has had limited exposure in the United States, until now. But not just any rosé. Did you know that rosé makes for more than half of Provence’s wine production? “It’s forbidden to open this wine before 2016,” he told me. This is a longer version of an article also published by the Financial Times.. See Domaine Tempier, new and (very) old for full tasting notes. Composed mostly of cinsault with a splash of younger vine mourvèdre culled from northward facing vineyards, Bandol rosé is taught and trim where its red cousin is round and robust. By contrast, the anonymity that cloaks Bandol can be chalked up to nothing but neglect, since its quality and pedigree far outstrip its neighbors and, when in true form, approach that of its Bordelais and Burgundian countrymen. Arguably the best Rose made today. There are many famous wine regions within Provence, but none make better wines than Bandol. Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. One might forgive the lack of attention given to Provencal appellations with less gravitas, such as Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Palette, Côtes de Provence and Bellet (though these regions merit a good bit more attention that they generally get, for reasons I hope to address in future columns). Rosé may have a reputation as a fair-weather beverage, but there is no good reason why wine that just so happens to be pink can’t be drunk at any and all points of the year. Here Ken Gargett takes a look at a couple of the very best rosés made anywhere on the planet. Where is the best Rosé wine from? Survey the bottles of blush pinch-hitting for rouge in wine enthusiasts’ lineups these days, and you’ll find a predominance of wine from. It is often considered to be one of the best red wines in Provence which produces strong and robust wines with very long ageing potential. - Wine & Spirits Magazine (Year's Best Provençal Wines, August 2019), 90 pts. His wife encourages you to sample la gamme—the Domaine’s entire range of cuvées--and eagerly awaits your reaction to each. Ample sun and scarce rain (which, when it does fall, is blown away by the infamous Mistral winds, thereby preventing rot) gives the late-maturing mourvèdre the time it needs to ripen. Sure, Bandol is small—a mere 1500 hectares of vines (one-tenth the size of Napa Valley) producing only 60,000 cases of wine annually (compared to 60 million cases produced by Bordeaux each vintage). Not only known as the birthplace of cricket (yes, indeed) Hambledon is also home of some outstanding sparkling wines. Excellent value for money. ), Bandol Wines: Great Red Wines from Provence, Rosé du Loire? 2014 Domaine du Gros Noré Rosé Rosés should be crisp, mineral and dry with complex flavors. There is a mandatory aging of 18 months in oak and many find the wines similar to those of Bandol. One-half of all rosé wine made in France comes from Provence. “I think of red Bandol as one of the great crossover wines,” he says. Bruno Paillard’s Première Cuvée Rosé Champagne. Location: Provence, France (between Marseille and Toulon)Size: 1,500 hectares (≈3,750 acres) of vineyardsProduction: 60,000 cases per vintagePrinciple grapes: mourvèdre (at least 51% in reds), cinsault, grenacheRecommended vintages: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 (rosés)Recommended winemakers: Dom. Consequently, you get a more complex flavour profile whilst retaining all the delicacy one would hope for. And here, like most places suffering under the unrelenting rays of our nearest star, rosé is king. But don’t despair: unless you’re a sommelier of some sophistication or, like me, you stumbled into dumb luck while vacationing in Provence, you’re not likely to have ever heard of a tiny seaside region called Bandol. And if they have and they still hate rosés, I ask them if they’ve every tried a Bandol rosé. Having tasted Bandol, I can hardly blame them. Few beverages satisfy on a hot day like a glass of chilled Bandol blush, paired with anything grilled or savored on its own. Made with Provence in mind and from 100% Grenache grapes, it’s got markedly Spanish flair, with a vibrant colour and lively flavours that range from sweeter peach and nectarine notes to biting pink grapefruit and a dose of spice (white pepper). Enjoy on its own, with salty crisps or a piquant salad. The flavors of Rosé wines can vary from dry to sweet, depending on the grape used to make the wine. Whenever popping the cork of a young Bandol, be sure to let it decant an hour or two before serving. Anyone who has (rightly) foresworn pink wine after a scrape with California white zinfandel should give it a try. After all, if the opportunity presents itself, go for it. Dining in Bandol, French Riviera - Cote d'Azur: See 19,693 Tripadvisor traveller reviews of 105 Bandol restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. Domaine Tempier, Bandol, €24 a bottle Saving the best to last Domaine Tempier is the reference Domaine for Bandol and its rosé is unsurprisingly one of the best in the world. Warm evenings on the front porch or perhaps the back deck are a great time of year for Rosé wine. de la Tour du Bon, Dom. You’re not just paying for the slinky bottle with this one. A salmon pink and copper color. It’s good for the year at 250 California wineries. Completely dry with measured acidity, it tastes of raspberries with a hint of dried fruit (apricots, in particular) and fresh lemon on the finish. Hint: They all begin with the letter “B.”If you have a basic knowledge of the world of wine, you’ll quickly come up with the first two answers: Bordeaux and Burgundy, the most famous of French appellations and perhaps the best known wine regions on earth. Mourvèdre is the main varietal in both rosé and red along with Cinsault, Grenache, and a host of unusual grapes like Castet, Muscat de Hamburg, Petit Brun, and Téoulier. When my fellow Americans tell me they hate rosés (as they almost always do), I ask them if they’ve ever tried a French rosé. You come to find he and his wife own the place, and he’s in the middle of crushing grapes, but he’d be glad to have you taste whatever you like. For both the red and rosé wines, Mourvèdre must account for at least 50% of the blend, though most producers will use significantly more, with Grenache & Cinsaut usually filling out the rest of the wine’s composition. Mais oui! You probably know Campo Viejo for its Riojas but the rosé is well worth a go, too. This isn’t true for every Bandol, but nonetheless it’s worth making an effort to serve it before four or (even better) after six years of aging, if possible. Here is a list of 75 wines from France that make up that category. “A relative newcomer to the Bandol rosé scene, Bastide de la Ciselette is a classic Bandol rosé in style with herbaceous notes and fresh tart red fruit.” Tempier Bandol Rosé… But for every cutesy rosé “brand” out there, there are also producers who stress that their rosé is designed from the outset to be a rosé—as opposed to being a pink by-product of red wine production. The balance of the blend is rounded out by cinsault (for finesse of texture) and grenache (for generosity of flavor). There’s something magical about Provence that has inspired authors and artists for centuries. Why spend hundred on tastings when you can taste for less or for free with The Priority Wine Pass. Nestled between Marseille and Toulon on the French Riviera, Bandol produces red wines of great power and depth. Finlayson uses wild fermentation, meaning that the yeast used to convert the grapes’ natural sugars into alcohol are native to the environment that the fruit itself is grown in, rather than cultured artificially. Bandol rosés are at the top of the rosé hierarchy. Pure Provence, made for the style-conscious, you get gentle fruit flavours (raspberry and peach, in particular) with a hint of watermelon and a good dose of minerality to even it all out. In my. If having capacity to age is one of the criteria for assessing quality, then this wins by a country mile. The Rosebud rosé is always a treat, and the 2019 blend has 58% of peppery Syrah matched by 42% of the more fragrant Viognier. The Domaine also makes a stunning red and white wine, but the region is known for rosé—a fact reflected in this world-class example. Indeed, Bandol is the only appellation in the world that requires all of its reds to be made of at least 51% mourvèdre, and some of Bandol’s finest offerings are closer to 90 or 95%. Best Dining in Bandol, French Riviera - Cote d'Azur: See 19,690 Tripadvisor traveler reviews of 105 Bandol restaurants and search by cuisine, price, location, and more. It should be noted that these are no small pours--you’d best spit if you hope to make it through more than two wineries or otherwise navigate the sometimes treacherous hills without fear of wreck. [I should note that Bandol produces a small amount of white wine made primarily from clairette, bourboulenc, ugni blanc and a few other French grapes no one’s ever heard of. The hilly region enjoys over 3,000 hours of sun per year, and the vineyards from which its red wine draws its grapes almost always face the sunny south. The day was warm with great breezes coming in off the sea. And in 1941, Bandol was one of the very first regions in France to be granted Appellation d’Origine Controlée status (“AOC”). The former Hollywood couple have co-owned the winery since 2012, and have teamed up with Champagne Pierre Péters to produce this fizz (still made using the TKTK method, as with the still Provençal Miravel wines). 6 Bottles., Bandol, Provence $ 119.98 Characterized by cherry and blackberry flavors, an earthy (sometimes herby or feral) richness, a strong tannic structure, and plenty of pepper in its youth, Bandol’s voluptuous ripeness reflects its sun-baked terroir. At a terrific little wine shop in Aix-en-Provence I purchased a bottle of 2001 Chateau Pradeaux, one of the better winemakers in Bandol. We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Pretend it’s still sunny with these all-year-round rosés. While such precise specification may give rise to allegations of imaginative exaggeration, there’s no doubt that Bandol possesses a complexity and nuance of flavor shared by too few wines. Bandol is the most interesting and quality-oriented appellation in … Bandol has this strange tendency to go through odd phases in its maturity: during the first four years it will be drinkable but aggressive, then it will undergo a stage in which the flavor drops out and the wine tastes imbalanced, but after year six or seven it will become more interesting, complex, and approachable. Beautiful as an aperitif, but equally stands up well to both salt and spice if you want to make an evening with it. Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose 2016 . It’s hot. Now whilst this isn’t strictly a rosé wine, I … Some I have and others I hope to. The warm (often hot) Mediterranean climate creates an ideal ecological environment for Bandol’s roi cépage (“king grape”), mourvèdre. The name Bandol is recognised by the decree of 11 November 1941. Mourvedre / Cinsault. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be on the list. It is there that these wines are part of the lifestyle. Many wines delight, but Bandol rosé has the potential to redeem (if not your soul, at least your palate). Its depth makes it a goer for food pairings – it can hack creaminess, spiciness and richness as well as lighter dishes. Bandol vines are planted on terraces, called “restanques,” which early growers painstakingly carved into the hills in an effort to prevent erosion and facilitate the natural distribution of water resources. Louis XV first made Bandol fashionable by serving it at the royal table. Rosé is arguably the most well known type of wine from Provence, but the red wines, particularly from Bandol, possess a great depth of character and ability to age. The first addition to Bollinger’s permanent line in 12 years, this is a sparkling rosé wine made solely from Pinot Noir grapes (one of the three varieties typically combined to make Champagnes – the others are Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier) mainly from the village of Verzenay and harvested in 2015 – hence the name. The freshest of the fresh (or pure, we should say), you’re safe with any one of the Mirabeau range but this edition is crisp, clean, elegant and just perfect to start an evening with. The reds are ripe and lush enough to be enjoyed in youth but the best also have the capacity for long ageing. Bandol natives like to describe their wines as having aromas of leather, undergrowth, Havana, and minerality, with flavors of black fruit, eucalyptus, violet and liquorice when young and red fruit, Morello cherry, jam, spices, truffle and hummus when aged. Made from another esteemed rosé brand that always comes through on quality, this is the jewel in their crown, made from grapes harvested from three sites across the Côtes de Provence and Bandol regions. But it’s worth remembering that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s wines, from Château Miravel in Provence, are actually rather good. A blend composed predominantly of the sturdy Mourvèdre (the main grape variety of this coastal part of Provence – black, thick-skinned and prone to tarter dark berry flavours), along with the more supple Grenache and Cinsault, the flavour, though delicate, is anything but simple. Nor should Bandol’s privileged location contribute to its relative anonymity. Nor does the history of Bandol explain the region’s obscurity. Comments? Let’s face it, the wild proliferation of celebrity wine brands only serves to make most of us more cynical (and often with just cause). Pradeaux, Dom. 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