Bastide Blanche "Cuvee Fontanieu" Bandol 2001

Purple/red.

Vinturi - deep, complex, nose - clay/earth, tree bark, oak spice (but there isn't any new oak here), blackberry, licorice, pepper and a medicinal note.

Round and dense in the mouth, with excellent mid-palate depth. Shows a bit of heat, but nothing crazy. Grainy tannin hits quite late and never quashes flavor flow, which is all black (fruit, licorice) with medicinal character repeating. Front teeth get a bit chewy, though. I wonder when this thing will peak? 5-8 more years?


$25 on release. Just got some '07, which is $28, and still stupidly cheap. 15.5% alcohol listed. 100% Mourvedre.