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Two ’93 Domaine Tempier Bandols

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On our last night in Napa, we took Allan Bree to dinner at Bistro Jeanty, a delightful restaurant in Yountville that he had introduced us to during our last trip out. Allan brought along two equally delightful wines from one of our very favorite producers, Domaine Tempier in Bandol, which we proceeded to enjoy with a succession of delicious appetizers and entrees, including Chef Jeanty’s famous cream of tomato soup, deep fried Great Lakes smelt, a marvelous artichoke heart terrine with lemon pesto, Epaule De Porc (slow roasted pork shoulder), steak tartare and a lovely little duck tart.

1993 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Migoua, 11-14% alc.: Clean, dark color, with lovely, earthy mushroom, leather and black fruit flavors and aromas; so much charm and personality, smooth and harmonious and in a beautiful drinking window right now. About this, Bree commented that it is “so bright and focused.”  Find this wine

1993 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Tourtine, 11-14% alc.: Showing clean, dark color, and rather funkier than the La Migoua, with forest floor and a stemmy quality playing off the rich core of black fruit; full-bodied, very smooth and harmonious, but the funkiness may turn some off. The Gang likes it just fine, however, and gives it six thumbs up. Find this wine

Bree pretty summed things up when he uttered, “Wow, I’m afraid these wines are taking no prisoners tonight…”

Domaine Tempier Bandol is imported by Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA

Reporting from Day-twah,

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  3. Red Wings and Red Rhônes: 2007 Domaine Sainte-Anne Côtes-du-Rhône Villages
  4. 2008 Domaine La Garrigue Côtes-du-Rhône Cuvée Romaine

6 Responses to “Two ’93 Domaine Tempier Bandols”

  • George Heritier:

    Irony R Us, Bennett, just like going to Napa and drinking French rose! Smelt are plentiful in the Great Lakes; in fact Kim and I both used to “dip” for them with nets when we were kids. And I must say, that was some of the best smelt I’ve ever eaten!!!

  • Bennett Traub:

    It’s always great fun to compare Migoua and Tourtine together. Your descriptions seem right on. America has a long way to go with Mourvedre to come up with something nearly as good.

    But what’s this about coming all the way from Day-twaa to eat “Great Lakes smelt” in Napa? For that matter, what the hell are smelt doing in the Great Lakes? You guys have a great sense of irony. :)

  • George Heritier:

    Steve, three words: Drink or hold. ;)

  • Steve K.:

    To paraphrase my buddy Chris, I have never drunk a mature Tempier. (He said it about H. Gouges NSG, but no matter.) And that\’s not completely true, but it\’s mostly true. So now I\’m finally down to my last two bottles of the stuff, which happen to be 1993 Tourtine. And you and Bree are telling me \"drink up\", are you? Can ye be trusted, I wonders.

    Well, I do have two.

  • Steve K.:

    To paraphrase my buddy Chris, I have never drunk a mature Tempier. (He said it about H. Gouges NSG, but no matter.) And that’s not completely true, but it’s mostly true. So now I’m finally down to my last two bottles of the stuff, which happen to be 1993 Tourtine. And you and Bree are telling me “drink up”, are you? Can ye be trusted, I wonders.

    Well, I do have two.

  • Bree:

    1993 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Migoua – Mmmmmmm…

    1993 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Tourtine – Wow…

    We only gives them six thumbs up because we ran out of thumbs…

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