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2021 Bandol Blanc
Domaine TempierIn the Tempier cellars—and in the Bandol appellation as a whole—white wine represents just 5% of the production. Vigneron Daniel Ravier crafts this Provençal rarity from Clairette, Ugni, Bourboulenc, Rolle, and Marsanne grown on terraced hillsides in a cooler corner of the AOC historically renowned for the quality of its Bandol blancs. These recently acquired vineyards now make up most of the blend, bringing a newfound energy to complement the sun-kissed fruit, while Daniel’s vinification in oak foudres accentuates length, structure, and what the French call verticalité.
Tempier’s blanc, with its delicate florals, subtle note of anise, and stony finish, tastes perfect alongside shellfish or grilled seafood. After a few years in your cellar, pair it with cheeses or serve it alone to appreciate what Daniel calls “honeyed and marine aromas” that develop with age.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: | white |
Vintage: | 2021 |
Bottle Size: | 750mL |
Blend: | 60% Clairette, 18% Ugni Blanc, 19% Bourboulenc, 3% Marsanne |
Appellation: | Bandol |
Country: | France |
Region: | Provence |
Producer: | Domaine Tempier |
Vineyard: | 1.6 ha, 20 years average |
Soil: | Clay, limestone |
Farming: | Organic (practicing) |
Alcohol: | 13% |
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About The Producer
Domaine Tempier
About The Region
Provence
Perhaps there is no region more closely aligned with the history to Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant than Provence. Provence is where Richard Olney, an American ex-pat and friend of Alice Waters, lived, and introduced Kermit to the great producers of Provence, most importantly Domaine Tempier of Bandol. Kermit also spends upwards of half his year at his home in a small town just outside of Bandol.
Vitis vinifera first arrived in France via Provence, landing in the modern day port city of Marseille in the 6th century BC. The influence of terroir on Provençal wines goes well beyond soil types. The herbs from the pervasive scrubland, often referred to as garrigue, as well as the mistral—a cold, drying wind from the northwest that helps keep the vines free of disease—play a significant role in the final quality of the grapes. Two more elements—the seemingly ever-present sun and cooling saline breezes from the Mediterranean—lend their hand in creating a long growing season that result in grapes that are ripe but with good acidity.
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 white wines of Cassis and Bandol offer complexity and ideal pairings for the sea-influenced cuisine. Mourvèdre reigns king for red grapes, and similar to the Languedoc and Rhône, Grenache, Cinsault, Marsanne, Clairette, Rolle, Ugni Blanc among many other grape varieties are planted.
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2020 Cassis Blanc “Bel-Arme”
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2021 Bandol Rouge
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2020 Bandol Rouge
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2020 Cassis Blanc “Bel-Arme”
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2018 Côtes de Provence Rouge
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2015 Bandol Rouge
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2022 Alpilles Blanc “Jaspe”
Domaine Hauvette France | Provence
2021 Bandol Rosé MAGNUM
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2022 Bandol Rosé
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Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch