Bandol is a wine appellation in the Provence region of southern France. There has been wine making in that region since Roman times and the region was the first to get the AOC (translated to Controlled Designation of Origin) designation in 1941.
On August 13th, Verve Wine Shop located at 24 Hubert Street in lower Manhattan held a tasting of seven Bandol wines from four producers. They poured two whites, three rosé and two reds.
It was a nice tasting of wines that I don’t normally drink. I enjoyed the whites because they were made with an obscure varietal (Clairette) that I don’t drink very often.
2022 Domaine Marie Berenice Bandol Blanc: Made from Clairette and Ugni blanc grapes. Clear medium gold, ripe mango on the nose, juicy and dusty with earth notes on the finish, nice balance.
2023 Chateau Henri Bonnaud Palette Blanc: Made from Clairette, Ugni Blanc and Grenache Blanc grapes. Clear light gold, peaches and earth notes on the nose, juicy ripe fruit with some earth notes on the finish, fairly low acidity, easy drinking.
2023 Chateau Henri Bonnaud Palette Rosé “Vielles Vignes”: Blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault. Light copper in color, light strawberry fragrance on the nose, medium body with good acidity.
2023 Domaine des Trois Filles Bandol Rosé: Blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault. Light copper in color, cantaloupe on the nose, peppery notes on the fruit, crisp acids.
2024 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé: Light red in color, vegetal and black pepper notes on the nose, light berry and toast notes on the fruit, crisp acids.
2021 Domaine Marie Berenice Bandol Rouge: Blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache. Clear medium purple, perfume of tar, crushed stone and cooked vegetable, chewy and tarry fruit, balanced with a nice grip.
2019 Chateau Henri Bonnaud Palette Rouge: Blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Vieux Carignan. Clear medium brick, toasty earth and crushed red fruit on the nose, juicy red fruit with tar notes, nice grip.
SocialVino 