Le Bastide Blanche Bandol Rouge 2018

“The Bastille de Blanche rouge makes up 40% of production of the estate, vine age average age of 31 years. 73% of Mouvedre dominates this wine and is blended with Grenache, a little Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan. Again all fruit is hand harvested, hand sorted and destemmed. Ferment temperatures are slow and steady to optimize extraction and retain freshness at the same time, around 22 days ferment. Pressed off to vat for malolactic and ageing, combination of barrel and large cuvee. The wine spends 18 months in oak before bottling. A powerful dark wine, with lots of aroma’s of black currant, liquorice, black olive and a lovely earthy leathery notes. Very complex on the nose and similar on the palate with incredible tannins and structure. The wine is still young and is definitely going to improve with some time in the cellar, however the luscious jammy fruits and warm spices do make it a great match for a Provençal dinner” – Caroline – Francaboutwine