But is Tempier at the top of their category? I’ve said it here multiple times and I say it again - I feel Tempier is just a good Bandol rosé, but I don’t think it is anything special.
I’ve heard multiple people say that the wine actually used to be quite unique in the past, but that was something like 20 years ago and there’s nothing exceptional about the wine now. That might explain how the wine got its reputation and why I don’t understand what the fuss is all about - all the Tempier rosés I’ve tasted have been from the past 10-15 vintages. They’ve often been good, but nothing outside of ordinary - there are lots of other similarly good Bandol rosés out there and I really struggle to see how Tempier’s wines are supposed to be so much better than the others.
The Tempier reds are different - I think they actually are at the top of their category when it comes to Bandol reds.
Based on my observations of this Board, I’d say you’re in the minority here with that opinion. I’m not dismissing your opinion at all, but I think the majority here would disagree,
I’ve noticed. That was one of the things that baffled me greatly when I joined the board - why everybody was going so crazy for Tempier? What was so special about it?
I still haven’t received an answer to this question.
I’ve noticed this one, too. However, that seems to be a common problem with many Bandol reds. I guess big, tough and rustic reds aren’t that popular anywhere?
We love the reds, they are fantastic food tools, especially with age.
The rosé is very nice. I think it’s special for being exactly correct and satisfying, every time. No fireworks, just solid and strong in every aspect for its style. A little bit more stuffing and complexity than other good ones in the category. Whether that plain old just-a-bit better and totally reliable is worth the price to you is a personal choice. But no - it isn’t a blow me away wine.
I know not everybody is after complexity in this category but last August at our brosé bronanza the 2021 Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rosé was more complex and just generally better than any Tempier Rosé that I’ve had. Loved the herbal and saline notes on that one. Otherwise I find many already mentioned, many of them introduced to me at the bronanzas, worth the higher price tag: Caroline and Vignettes from Cibonne, Tondonia, Simone, l’Horizon, Pataille Fleur, Thymiopoulos, Buçaco, Valentini…
It all depends on the quality of the wine as to how much I’m willing to spend on the wine. I have had some Rosé that I would happily pay $25/bottle for the rest of my life based on the quality. I’ve had some where I’m willing to spend much more $100-$200/bottle but those have all been small production, world-class wines. The (2012 base) Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Rose de Saignee Extra Brut comes to mind as a wine I would happily buy again, but at the going average of $500+/bottle it would need to drop to about $200/bottle before I would splurge for another bottle.
I completely agree with Otto, about the rosé being just good, and the reds being exceptional. I wonder how many people who think the rosé is so great have tasted it blind, particularly among other southern French rosés.
I probably drink as much or more Provence rosé on the regular than anyone on the board. At least anyone here whom would be willing to own up to that. First, one rarely has to worry about buying Tempier because it’s pretty hard to find (at least in my part of the world) and any one place likely has an allocation of a case or less that they already have customers for. Second, and I agree with SK here, while I find it to be quite good (there was a vintage recently that was a little stinky) and has more texture than other wines from the area (but without getting too dense or heavy) I do think of whether I would rather have 1 bottle of Tempier or 2 bottles of something like Peyrassol Commandeurs or 3 bottles of their regular wine. The difference isn’t so great that the price, to me, merits the choice on any sort of regularity beyond checking in on it maybe once/vintage. I would likely buy it more to bring to share with people that don’t buy it buy know about it and find it cool to try. Whereas I buy rosé on the regular to have as wine with dinner (or lunch, or just for having).
Nice! We’re probably not too far behind, though our consumption includes our beloved Brana from Irouleguy - still south of France. 50 bottles last year (with no wine consumption in Jan/Feb/Aug), and that doesn’t include anything sparkling.
I get that, but doesn’t that just boil down to preference? I mean, I don’t really like Bordeaux or Rhône wines, and I think terroir is about 92% b/s, and I know those perspectives put me in a certain minority. But I can also appreciate the perspectives of those who love them.
Your question is similar to why do so many people (not on WB) love The Prisoner/Caymus/Silver Oak/[insert another WB punching bag]? It doesn’t make them wrong - those SKUs don’t sell that well if the stuff is objectively bad.
I mostly buy my rose piecemeal so I can’t keep super great track but I would venture that between stuff I’ve bought (which would all be from Provence) and the PGC Tempranillo rose (the 24 is spot on), which I’ll dip into if I don’t have something already at home, I’m in for 10 cases so far this year and I’ve traveled a lot February-May which definitely cut into rose drinking.
Just fwiw
not 1er league but Pegau’s Pink Pegau at 10+ € is really good for the price …
Chateau/Domaine des Tours makes a really nice rosé, too - but certainly no bargain.
50 bottles last year (with no wine consumption in Jan/Feb/Aug), and that doesn’t include anything sparkling.