2023 Domaine Tempier Bandol "Cabassaou", Provence, France

ABOUT THE WINE
Sourced from a low-yielding, sheltered parcel tucked beneath the La Tourtine vineyard, La Cabassaou sits on steep terraces with full southern exposure, allowing Mourvèdre to ripen to exceptional concentration. The 2023 vintage is composed of approximately 95% Mourvèdre, with trace amounts of Syrah and Cinsault. The site’s combination of protected microclimate, clay-limestone soils, and vine age contributes to a wine of formidable structure and aging capacity. Native yeast fermentation and extended aging in large, old oak foudres (typically 18–20 months) result in a wine that is both feral and composed, demanding cellaring to reveal its full complexity. Ideal with slow-braised wild boar, aged cheeses, or truffle-laced dishes that stand up to its robust character.

ABOUT THE PRODUCER
Domaine Tempier is the spiritual home of Bandol, a historic estate long associated with the elevation of Mourvèdre to noble status in Provence. The Peyraud family, who have guided the domaine since the 1930s, were instrumental in shaping the Bandol AOC and remain committed to organic farming, minimal intervention, and traditional élevage in large foudres. Their wines are benchmarks for the region—expressive, structured, and deeply reflective of their terroir. Among Tempier’s revered single-vineyard cuvées, La Cabassaou stands apart for its sheer intensity and longevity, embodying the wild, sun-drenched, and windswept essence of coastal Provence at its most profound.