If you’re into wines with serious soul, Tourtine is one of Bandol’s greatest hits. It’s a single parcel bottling from the legendary Domaine Tempier, where Mourvèdre rules the roost and time is part of the recipe. Grown on a steep, rocky slope just inland from the Med, this is a wine built for the long haul—and the 2012 is finally strutting its stuff.
Over a decade in, it’s still got that signature Mourvèdre grip, but the edges have melted into something beautiful: black fruit, lavender, leather, spice, and that unmistakable Bandol wildness—like walking through the garrigue after a rainstorm. It’s deep and structured, but there’s also a surprising elegance now, a savory-silky flow that only comes with age.
This is the kind of wine that makes lamb jealous, but it’s just as good with mushrooms, grilled meats, or a long evening with nothing on the calendar. If you want Bandol with pedigree, maturity, and full-throttle character, this bottle delivers.
