Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence, France

With every swirl of the glass, the 2024 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé conjures the sun-drenched hills of Provence, wild herbs on the breeze, salt from the nearby sea, and the hum of summer cicadas in the air. This iconic rosé, revered as the benchmark of Bandol, marries power and finesse in equal measure. Crafted primarily from Mourvèdre, with supporting roles from Grenache and Cinsault, it embodies the balance between fruit, minerality, and garrigue that defines the very soul of the Mediterranean.

Product Details:

• Winemaker: Daniel Ravier
• Blend: 55% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 20% Cinsault
• Vine Age: ~20 years
• Soil: Clay and limestone
• Aging: 6–8 months in cuve before bottling
• Farming: Certified organic
• Alcohol: 13%

Sensory Description:

The 2024 vintage opens with a captivating perfume of grapefruit peel, white peach, and wild Provençal herbs, rosemary, thyme, and a whisper of sea spray. On the palate, layers of ripe orchard fruit, red currant, and guava unfold with crystalline precision. The texture is both silky and energetic, carried by mouthwatering acidity and a saline edge that lingers long after the final sip. The finish glows with mineral intensity and an almost weightless grace, a signature of the house’s mastery of Mourvèdre in rosé form.

Awards & Accolades:

• 94 Points – Billy Norris, Vinous: “Utter class … the 2024 is the best edition in recent memory with supreme balance and textural finesse.”
• 93 Points – Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate: “Bright and medium-to-full bodied with a juicy core and saline, ethereal finish.”

Winemaker's Background:

Founded in 1834, Domaine Tempier is more than a winery; it is the beating heart of Bandol. Under the stewardship of Lucie and Lucien Peyraud, the estate helped define the modern identity of Bandol wines, championing Mourvèdre as the region’s noble grape and securing the appellation’s AOC status in 1941. Today, under Daniel Ravier’s direction and the continued involvement of the Peyraud family, Domaine Tempier remains a symbol of authenticity, integrity, and timeless quality. The estate’s organic vineyards, set on clay-limestone slopes overlooking the Mediterranean, yield wines of purity and longevity, living testaments to nearly two centuries of tradition.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve chilled at 48–52 °F (9–11 °C) in a wide-bowled rosé glass. This rosé pairs effortlessly with Mediterranean fare, panisses, cured anchovies, niçoise salad, bouillabaisse, or simply fresh goat cheese with herbs. It also elevates lighter grilled meats and summer vegetable tarts. While delightful young, it will develop beautiful depth over 5–10 years, revealing notes of candied citrus, melon, and rose petal with age.

The 2024 Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé is more than a wine; it’s Provence distilled, a liquid reflection of the land’s light, warmth, and grace that continues to define what great rosé should be.