Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge Cuvee Cabassaou 2023 750ml

Product Info

Domaine Tempier's Cuvée Cabassaou sits at the pinnacle of the estate's red wines and is one of the most celebrated expressions of Mourvèdre in Bandol. Produced in very limited quantities from a small, exceptionally warm parcel, Cabassaou combines the power and longevity of great Bandol with remarkable aromatic complexity and finesse.

The Cabassaou vineyard lies below the celebrated La Tourtine parcel, on a steep, sun-drenched slope protected from the Mistral. Mourvèdre dominates the blend, producing a wine of exceptional concentration and structure. Yields are naturally low, and the combination of old vines, intense Mediterranean sunshine and Tempier's traditional approach results in a Bandol capable of developing for decades.

The 2023 is deeply expressive, with blackberry, black cherry and dark plum layered with violet, wild Mediterranean herbs, licorice, spice and the savory, earthy character that makes mature Mourvèdre so compelling. Powerful but not heavy, the palate combines concentrated dark fruit with firm, beautifully integrated tannins and a distinctive mineral freshness.

Cabassaou is typically the richest and most intense of Tempier's single-vineyard Bandols, yet its appeal lies equally in its balance and capacity to evolve. With bottle age, the youthful fruit gradually gives way to increasingly complex notes of leather, game, dried herbs, tobacco and spice.

One of the benchmark wines of Provence and a reference point for Mourvèdre worldwide, Cuvée Cabassaou is produced in tiny quantities and remains one of Domaine Tempier's most sought-after bottlings. The 2023 is a serious candidate for the cellar, although patient drinkers willing to decant it extensively can begin exploring it in its youth.