Winemaker Notes
Its aromas of cassis coo coyly, its voluptuous body enthralls, its explosive notes of crushed limestone dazzle, and its silky tannins leave you reaching for your next pour.
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Bandol la Migoua—tasted from foudre—is a bit tarry and rubbery (expected, to some degree, in young Mourvèdre-based wines) but opens up to reveal seductive, ripe notes of blackberries and mulberries. A blend of approximately 55% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault, 15% Grenache and 5% Syrah, it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, concentrated but silky in feel and elegant on the long finish.
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
Jeb Dunnuck
the La Migoua is always one of the more accessible and aromatic releases from this historic domaine. Their 2020 Bandol Cuvée Speciale La Migoua shows this beautifully, exhibiting a medium ruby, semi-opaque hue as well as a perfumed nose of ripe red and black fruits, sandalwood, Provençal olives, pepper, and some subtle floral and gamey nuances. These carry to a medium-bodied Bandol with a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, beautifully integrated acidity, and soft tannins.
Full of ripe fruit, and robust, earthy goodness, Mourvèdre is actually of Spanish provenance, where it still goes by the name Monastrell or Mataro. It is better associated however, with the Red Blends of the Rhône, namely Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Mourvèdre shines on its own in Bandol and is popular both as a single varietal wine in blends in the New World regions of Australia, California and Washington. Somm Secret—While Mourvèdre has been in California for many years, it didn’t gain momentum until the 1980s when a group of California winemakers inspired by the wines of the Rhône Valley finally began to renew a focus on it.
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.