Bandol vintage insight

WINE TALK
1

You don’t generally see Provence, let alone Bandol specifically, called out in vintage charts.

I’m looking for some insight and guidance around Bandol vintages in the first half of the 90s and so have a couple qs.

  • have you come across a Bandol vintage chart. If so, can you direct to it?
  • in absence of one, what region do you use as a proxy, ie Southern Rhone, Languedoc Roussilon, etc?
  • do you just happen to have any intel on the following vintages: 1990, 1992, 1993, 1995

Thanks so much in advance.

2

:wink: I always refer to Southern Rhone, but I have never had a disappointing bottle of Bandol

3

I’d say e-mail Kermit Lynch’s site & ask. They have been importing Tempier forever.

4

Here’s a vintage chart, but I don’t know if I’d rely on it: Millésimes des vins d'appellation Bandol AOC

I always get oriented both towards the Southern Rhône and the Languedoc.

1990 is a very good vintage for Bandol and the wines are now just right. 1995 is good, too. From 1992 and 1993, I haven’t drank any yet.

5

The 1993 Tempier Tourtine and Miguoa were drinking extremely well in September 2013, but still had a lot of life left in them.

All of the 1998s except the white were tasted with them, and the rosé was pretty good but fading, the plain Bandol was good and probably at or just past peak, the Cuvée Speciale was incredible and probably close to or at peak, and the Miguoa, Tourtine, and Cabassaou were drinking very well but still had lots of room left for further development.

6

There really isn’t a lot of variation when it comes to vintages in Bandol, Provence. All are hot, dry with cool winds to cool the grapes at night.

7

This vintage chart isn´t very reliable.
While I´m no expert in Bandol vintages, quite a lot is not convincing.
E.g. 1992/93/94 in red is far from mediocre, while not really great these are good to very good, 1993 being better than 94 IMHO - and they are drinking very nicely now.

8

Thanks everyone, all very helpful. I also took the suggestion to drop Kermit a line. Ill post response here i if i get one…