Domaines Bunan 2018 "Mas de la Rouvière" Bandol Rouge

£20.30
Tasting notes
Smooth tannins with red berries and spice; rich, well-balanced and velvety. The ideal partner for Mediterranean cuisine.
Why we recommend this wine
When in Provence a while back to taste their Rosé we discovered that the red wines from the region that we preferred were from Bandol but unfortunately had no time to visit. This is a great example of what one gets there.

The wine
Mourvèdre: 60% Grenache: 20% Cinsault: 10% Syrah: 10%. From vives grown on selected parcels from the Castellet terroir (subsoil of limestone, sandstone and marls from the Upper Marine Cretaceous period) whose soils were formerly planted with olive groves, apricot and almond trees and immortelle flowers (everlasting flowers, part of the sunflower family). Fully destemmed grapes are macerated in truncated wooden vats followed by traditional ageing in barrels for 18 months.
The wine is a subtle blend that perfectly reflects the traditional Bandol style; intensely fruity and ideal for discovering the Mourvèdre varietal. Can be drunk young but matures well.

The wine estate
Any wine lover at large in Bandol for any length of time will soon encounter the vinous output of Domaines Bunan who are amongst the leading lights of the appellation. Brothers Paul and Pierre Bunan relocated here after Algerian independence in 1961 and bought the quintessential Provençal vineyard of Moulin de Costes which enjoys a breath-taking panoramic vista of vines, olive groves and hill-top villages overlooking the Mediterranean coast. The brothers subsequently expanded, acquiring neighbouring Mas and Château de la Rouvière and taking over the running of Domaine Bélouvé. These estates are known collectively as Domaines Bunan. They soon carved out a reputation for producing characterful wines with a strong sense of terroir. Nowadays they are assisted by their children making this a thriving, family-run concern.
bunan.com

Food and wine
Fish stews with red wine or tomato-based sauces, marinaded meats, duck l’orange or a chanterelle mushroom tart. Refer also to our food and wine pairing guide, click here.

Did you know?
Whilst Mourvèdre is thought to have originated in Spain it is not widely found there anymore. Bandol is the AOC region that most prominently features Mourvèdre (by law all red Bandols must contain at least 50% Mourvèdre). In Châteauneuf-du-Pape it is one of the 18 permitted varieties in the red wine but is often a secondary component behind Grenache and Syrah. In other countries it is generally part of the GSM blend.