The holidays must be fast approaching, because the latest stunning library release from Bandol standout Château Vannières has just arrived! Located in the beautiful Provençal hills, just a few miles from the Mediterranean, this top-tier estate is one of the very few in the area, and really anywhere, with the ability to hold back small tranches of their favorite vintages and release them right as they hit their prime drinking window. Legacy subscribers will remember several of these fantastic releases, and we have another mind-blowing opportunity today with their magnificent 2001. A perfectly balanced vintage—full of classic Mourvèdre spice, lushly concentrated fruit, and true-to-the-variety tannins that have begun to soften up—provides aged wine lovers with an epic journey to the apogée of Southern French reds. And what an incredible price for a perfectly aged blue chip—of course, we don’t have a lot, so grab as much as you can before they’re gone!
With a mountainous backdrop forming a natural amphitheater, quaint hilltop villages, and the glistening sea always on the horizon, Provence is among Europe’s most breathtaking regions. But if you’re looking to pinpoint Mourvèdre at its most intense, glorious, and age-worthy, all eyes are glued to the tiny, Mediterranean-adjacent appellation of Bandol where titans like Tempier, Pradeaux, Pibarnon, and Vannières reside.
In decades past, Bandol represented the Provençal equivalent of the greatest Barolo or Left Bank Bordeaux; it was the epitome of dark, deeply complex red wine that demanded many patient years in barrel and bottle before revealing its true glory. There was no “drink now” Bandol or “modern” Bandol—there was only Bandol, the singularly brooding expression of Provence’s most unforgiving terroir.
Today’s 2001 library release from Château Vannières, which was first built in 1547, perfectly fits the bill of “decades past.” This is the epitome of authentic, old-school Bandol Rouge: low yields, long vinification, 35-day punch-down regimen, and nearly two years of maturation in large foudres and barrels. After it was bottled, it spent over two decades resting in their dark, cool, ancient cellars. Our small parcel just arrived stateside. Despite its 20 pulse years of age, this remarkably well preserved wine will still benefit from a good decant of 30 to 60 minutes. Serve it at cellar temperature, around 60 degrees, in a large Bordeaux glass and you’ll be greeted by a masterclass of Mourvèdre: Black cherries, red plums, candied orange, black peppercorn, smoked paprika, leather, and espresso beans all surround a core of meaty, salty, iodine like minerality. A perfect match for traditional Southern French faire like cassoulet or daube, it is also excellent with grilled sausage flatbread or even a smoky, steakhouse style burger. But given the upcoming holiday season, you could really wow dinner guests with a couple of bottles next to a perfect rack of lamb. Whatever the occasion, having a centerpiece wine like this on hand throughout the season is a very smart thing to do!
