Variety: Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Cinsault
According to importer Kermit Lynch, no other winemaker stands more in the defense of terroir than the Peyraud family of Domaine Tempier. When Lulu Tempier married Lucien Peyraud, her father gave them the domaine, an active farm that had been in the family for 100 years. After tasting a pre-phylloxera bottle of Tempier Bandol, Lucien was inspired to research the terroir. Up until then, old vineyards planted with Mourvèdre had been regularly replanted to higher-yielding varieties. More research not only showed its historical roots to the area, but the grape proved to be more resistant to oxidation. Lucien worked with neighboring winemakers and the I.N.A.O. to establish Bandol as its own AOC. Replanting of Mourvèdre began; Bandol now requires a fifty percent minimum in all reds. Lucien has been paraded as the godfather of Bandol, but also as the man who revived Mourvédre to its former glory.
La Tourtine is a blend from mostly Mourvèdre supplemented with Grenache and Cinsault. Sitting at fairly high altitude from mostly clay soils in 40+ year old vines. The wine is powerful and tannic with the ability to age for some time.
