On occasion there are wine grapes we forget about as they are often used more as blending grapes versus stand alone grapes. This week I had the pleasure of opening a bottle of wine from the Bandol region in France produced by Tardieu-Laurent. The grape used in this wine is Mourvedre which is most often seen combined with Syrah and Grenache in the Rhone Valley as well as in Spain where it is known as Monastrell and in Australia where it is known as Mataro.
Mourvedre is a thick skinned grape that loves warm windy locations and therefore does quite well in Bandol which is along the Mediterranean coast of France. It is a picky grape and difficult to grow as it requires just the right amount of sunshine and rain. The Bandol climate is not only perfect, but the soils are also well-balanced with limestone, sand/gravel, and clay. This allows for proper drainage and ripening resulting in wines with great finesse.
This is one of the most elegant and stylish wines that I have had recently. As you swirl your glass, aromas of blackberries, flowers, and an earthy/smoky scent wafts through the air. The flavors that come from the 40 year old vines are complex and layered. There is a sophistication about this wine that kept my attention. With every sip I contemplated and wondered how this wine will develop further over the years. Elegant yet powerful, the Tardieu-Laurent Bandol 2005 offers immediate gratification, but for the connoisseur their is further delight in cellaring this beauty for a decade.
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