For lovers of truly “old school” Bandol Rouge from iconic producers such as Château Pradeaux, Domaine Ray-Jane will be a welcome addition to your rotation. And what’s not to love? This is nearly 100% Mourvèdre aged for a good five years in barrel and bottle before release, resulting in a wine that hints at everything from Barolo to Bordeaux—albeit with an unmistakably “Provençal” personality. Black and purple fruits mingle with a bouquet garni of wild herbs, dusty earth, and a hint of salinity from the nearby Mediterranean. The expression “they don’t make ‘em like this anymore” is very apt when applied to Ray-Jane. 

Mourvèdre’s already abundant structure is here reinforced by a fermentation incorporating 100% whole grape clusters—a practice which lends grip to the texture and substantial spice to the flavor profile. The wine is 90% Mourvèdre supported by 5% each of Cinsault and Grenache, all of it sourced from century-old vines rooted in the region’s iron-rich clay/limestone soils. It spends two years aging in 40-hectoliter oak vats before bottling, then ages further in bottle before release. This is a wine built to age for decades!