Winemaker Notes
Rosé has become so fashionable it’s almost a brand, but as with any other wine, there is tremendous variation in style and quality based on production zone, the grape varieties involved, farming, and, crucially, winemaking. For all the carefree pleasure and refreshment rosé provides, remember that it can also be a serious wine that expresses a sense of place. Terrebrune’s Bandol epitomizes this idea of a terroir-driven rosé, from the nose of thyme and white peach, redolent of a Provençal summer, to its mouthwateringly salty finish, a reminder that the sea is just a stone’s throw away. For conclusive evidence that this is no ordinary rosé, save a bottle for five, ten, or twenty years—a pleasant surprise awaits.
Blend: 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 25% Cinsault
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The rosé from this estate is often among my favorites, and the 2024 Bandol Rosé is no exception. Unfurling in the glass with a lively, vibrant bouquet of pomegranate, spices, crushed stones, curry leaf and lime, it is concentrated, suave and glossy, bringing both finesse and charm to the mid-palate. It culminates in a long, saline finish, offering a sense of harmony and precision. Generous yet balanced, this is a Bandol Rosé with the intensity and structure to evolve gracefully over the coming years. This is a blend of 60% Mourvèdre, 20% Grenache Noir and 20% Cinsault.
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Wine Spectator
A silky, streamlined Bandol, with a seductive mix of smoky mineral, fresh peach, strawberry, rose blossom and heather notes. Chive, crushed slate and smoke accents add savory appeal, with a cooling rush of crushed stone bringing beautiful refreshment to the finish. Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault.
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
Provence’s leader in concentrated and age-worthy red wines, Bandol is home to the dense, deep and earthy Mourvèdre grape. Like Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bandol produces characterful reds that, while approachable in their youth, are typically designed for the cellar.
Given its coastal, Provencal situation, Bandol also naturally produces an assortment of charming, aromatic rosés made of Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault.