Bastide Blanche, Cuvee Fontanieu, 2005 Bandol

Purple.

Vinturi - iodine/menthol, clay/earth, spicy fig, blackberry, pepper nose. Deep, nuanced.

Round and densely packed in the mouth, with typical grainy, tannic constriction. Really nice mid-palate "stuffing" keeps this chugging along, start to finish. Needs more bottle time to show flavor complexity. No hard edges, no heat. Long, moderately tannic finish.


$28. Major deal. 100% Mourvedre, I think.