Bandol?

[helenas]

There is a fascinating article on Bandol by Jay McInerney in october issue "House&Garden". Actually he is one of the reasons i'm bying this magazine.

I never tried Bandol before, but it sounds like my type of wine (he mentioned wet labrador and lit cigar as reference points). He also recommended several, mostly from 1998, but also said about decanting it for two days or so. Most of his recommendation are available locally, and not that expensive, but what with this long decanting?

And what are your favorite Bandols?

[mogsob]

I love labradors, but wouldn't want to drink one! Seriously, where do these critics come up with these descriptors?

Fortunately, Bandol neither tastes nor smells like a wet dog (btw, do labradors smell any different than other dogs?). Rather it tastes like red wine, and, more specifically, Southern French wine. If you like Cahors, Chinon, Coteau du Languedoc, you will like Bandol.

Moreover, 2 day decanting is a bit severe -- in a wide bottomed decanter an hour or so is fine for a 1998. Here are a few producers worth considering:

Tempier

Pradeaux

Pibarnon

Terrebrune

Figure on $15 to $20 for a very good Bandol.

[Ron Johnson]

Bandol is primarily if not 100% mourvedre, a grape that is known to impart a certain funkiness to the wine. Perhaps thats where Mr. Bright Lights Big City got the wet dog reference. It is often a tough customer when young and is best with some bottle age or some aggresive decanting if less than 5 years old.

Mogsob is right about Cahors and Languedoc wines being similar because both use a lot of mourvedre. However, I disagree with regard to Chinon, which is a wine from the Loire Valley made with 100% cabernet franc and is known for its soft medium bodied style and distince raspberry flavor.

In the summer Bandol Rose is a delicious and refreshing wine.

Tempier used to be the top producer, but quality has slipped some in recent years and prices have climbed, especially for the luxury cuvees. I think that Pibarnon and other small producers are giving the most bang for the buck, but if Tempier is all you can find, by all means buy it. I have several Tempiers in my collection.

Enjoy your Bandol experience and don't forget to try the Bandol Rose when the hot weather returns.

[Vivian Mallinson]

Two other producers are well worth looking out for: Suffrène and Gros' Noré. I usually find they outshine the better-known domaines.