Tempier Bandol 'Lulu & Lucien' 2020

Gifted her family's ancient vineyards as a wedding present in 1936, Lulu Tempier and her husband Lucien Peyraud were instrumental in establishing the Bandol appellation and Domaine Tempier as one of France’s great wine estates.

Lucien was a master of long-lived savoury reds majoring on the grape Mourvèdre, as well as an iconic rosé and a rare Bandol blanc, while Lulu was the genius in their kitchen and responsible for introducing the world to Provençal cooking alongside her friends food writer Richard Olney and chef Alice Waters. In turn, Tempier would become a cornerstone in Kermit Lynch’s seminal book, “Adventures on the Wine Route”.

The domaine’s flagship cuvée – recently renamed ‘Lucien & Lulu’ after the latter passed away in 2020 at the age of 102 – is the reference point for red Bandol. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Carignan are sourced from an amphitheatre of 40-year-old biodynamic vineyards and then aged in oak foudres for up to 20 months. 

The warm 2020 vintage offers a deep core of dark fruit and powdery tannins alongside notes of Provence herbs and Mourvèdre’s quintessential savoury edge. While drinking beautifully already, especially with the local cuisine – Tempier matched with roast lamb is one of France’s top-tier pairings – it will gain further layers of complexity over the next two decades.

Still just a fraction of the price of many of France’s other cult bottles, Tempier Bandol Rouge is essential drinking among artisanal wine lovers.

“Already showing classic notes of tree bark and truffle layered against cherries and raspberries and a touch of olive. Concentrated and rich with a long, plush finish. Drink now to 2035+. 91-93 points, Wine Advocate