2021

A rather late- ripening vintage due to late bud- burst (which made the frost episodes milder than 2020 too) which delayed the whole cycle, 2021 also suffered from extreme drought. Despite summer was not too warm, it was particularly dry which blocked the maturity in some plots. Fresher temperatures than the last vintages prevented the vine from suffering of thermic stress and preserved good acidities. Rosés seem fresher, leaner also showing a serious phenolic structure as they seem less fleshy than 2020. Some producers have chosen a reductive style of vinification more specific with the Côtes de Provence, obtaining some thiolic expressions which perfectly suit the slender character and lighter textures but are less typical for Bandol.  

Bunan- La Rouvière brut de cuve – Pale raspberry pink, almost rose petal. Intense, offering redcurrants, red fruits, it is fresh, with medium plus acidity, structured by medium plus tannins with a grainy, phenolic bite. It mingles spices, such as liquorice, with juicy fruit, while being long, sapid, and peppery. Very good. Good potential. 

Tempier brut de cuve – Lightly reductive/thiolic, with soft attack, fresh feel, zesty and slightly phenolic feeling like grainy citrus peel, it is spiced up by peppery hints and refreshed by a minty finish. Very good, wait another 4-5 years and keep to the decade. 

Pieracci- Pale sandy pink, reductive, stony, displaying some thiols and red fruit. Pulpy, with medium but fresh acidity, juicy core spiced up by some pepper, it still preserves some CO2. Fine and polished phenolics. Good/+, but not typical. 

Bastide Blanche – Medium redcurrant pink, nose still shows some esters, with sweet fruit recalling strawberry, on a reductive background without any thiols. Rich texture, medium acidity, it shows flesh and spices, fruity core, with a long finish lingering with pepper and liquorice. Good/ Very good. 

Ste Anne – Pale pink, with stony veil, it expresses red currants with a hint of grapefruit. The palate still preserves some CO2, which brings a fresh feel despite medium acid structure. Nice tannic grip, sapid finish, which is long and mineral. Good/very good. 4-5 years to 10 years. 

Les Luquettes – Pale sandy pink, nose is clean and elegant, entwining blossoms and peaches. Dry, with low to medium acidity, its silky mouthfeel with no phenolics is spicy, while the aftertaste is rather long and fruity, almost like a Côtes de Provence. Good not typical. 

Pradeaux brut de cuve – Deep redcurrant pink, almost ruby. Discreet nose offering some redcurrants notes. Dry, with vivid medium to high acid, the palate is spicy with grainy tannins that show are medium to plus level, the finish is long and spicy. Very good, long- living, keep to the decade. 

Le Galantin – Pale redcurrant pink, nose is stony, with red fruit sapid, medium plus acid, fresh, alcohol medium medium body, but structured, grainy, long, redcurrant, juicy, 88 plus. 

Moulin de la Roque – Tarente brut de cuve – pale redcurrant pink colour, the nose is stony, with some red fruits aromas. Fresh, despite moderate acidity, it is digest, with a fruity splash, with mild tannins, zests, and a spicy twist. Good plus, but not typical. Drink young. 

La Bégude L´Irreductible- Deep redcurrant colour, the nose is expressive., recalling pomegranate, cranberry in a rather reductive way. Palate is fresh, with medium plus acid structure, moderate and digest alcohol, the texture is lean, with fruity and spicy core and good length. Good plus, age worthy. 

La Vivonne – brut de cuve – Very pinkish, of a redcurrant pink colour, the nose is clean, intense, with crunchy red fruit and soft, fresh palate. CO2 is still present, the tannins are moderate while texture is imprinted with a spicy character that lingers on the long, digest finish. Very good, with age potential. 

Ray- Jane – Pale like a Côtes de Provence. The nose displays thiols, the palate is rounded up, offering moderate acid structure, juicy core, light tannins, and fine and smooth mouthfeel. Nice texture with spices, with weight, body, and length. Very good, although not the most typical, drink while juvenile. 

2020.

Extremely early- budding vintage which unfortunately caused it suffering from violet spring frosts and disturbed the growing cycle, especially for Grenache Noir.  June rain episodes brought the threat of downy and powdery mildew, but this dry and warm vintage gave a very good quality overall during the rather early harvest. Rosés seem having less alcohol degree than 2019 (summer was warm but not excessively hot and benefited from good water reserves), however they are fleshier and more generous than 2021 with milder acidities and riper fruit, still preserving a fresh feeling. They have body and textured core which somehow wraps the tannins and bring a certain suavity.  The best ones will keep well for a couple of years despite rounded- up acidities, as they have good structure and depth of aromas. 

Ray- Jane Medium peachy pink. Nose offers peaches, strawberries, light citrus, and spices – liquorice, on citrus peel background. Dry, smooth with medium acidity, pulpy core, with light phenolics, hints of liquorice, juicy citrus, and pepper on the long finish. Alcohol seems generous, elevated, for a full but elegant rosé. Herbal and zesty twist on the finish, with a bitter touch. Good/Very good. 3-5 years. 

Pradeaux – Deep orange pink, almost coppery. Clean, blossomy, with rose and peony, but also candied fruits, strawberry compote, some spices coming along. Dry, clean and juicy, with vibrant freshness despite medium acidity. With generous alcohol, moderate tannins and spicy hints, it offers pristine fruit, as well as minty, balsamic finish. Long and structured, with good potential for aging (up to decade). Very good/+. 

Les Luquettes – Pale sandy pink, nose is clean, reductive, stony, offering citrus such as grapefruit and zests. Dry, with elevated/ medium plus acidity, moderate to plus alcohol and body, its sapid, salivating finish lingers with zests and white pepper, a splash of grapefruit and spices. Good/ Very good. 3-5 years. 

Salettes – Medium orange pink. Clean and ripe nose displaying apricot, peach, stony- iodine scents, a hint of liquorice. Dry, with ripe attack, still preserving a touch of CO2 that refreshes it, its juicy and fruity core with medium plus alcohol and body offers ripe apricot and peach, some melon. Spicy, zesty finish, the wine is long, sapid, with good aging potential of around 7-8 years. Very good.

La Bégude – L´Irreductible – Deep raspberry pink, discreet, some cherry notes. Dry, lean, with medium plus acidity, it stays fresh, with digest alcohol, medium plus tannins, and finish on bitter almonds. Medium plus to full body, fresh aftertaste, a serious Bandol now, with good potential. 

Tour du Bon – non millésimé 19/20 Medium mango- pink. Elegant floral nose offering orange blossom, peach, orange peel, blood orange. Fine and seducing, it is dry, with medium acidity, fresh feel, grainy phenolics, moderate alcohol, spicy finish. Medium- bodied, vibrant finish with herbal balsamics. Long, fresh, precise, and very good. 7- 8 years potential. 

Cabaudran – Medium peachy pink, delicate nose offering nectarine peach, some strawberries, light fruit evolution. Dry, still having some CO2, its fresh and juicy core shows medium acidity and light phenolics, enhanced by a zesty touch. Citrus, vine peach, liquorice, herbal aromatics, long, medium- bodied, very good, 5-6 years. 

Bastide Blanche – deep orange pink, nose is clean, open and fruity offering strawberry scents. Dry, with medium acidity, gentle texture, moderate rounded up phenolics, it is long and sapid with digest alcohol but a fairly rich body. Fresh finish despite the candied fruit and liquorice that brings a mellow twist, very good, keep up to a decade. 

Le Galantin – Medium mango colour, clean and delicate, with a light reduction, recalling iodine. The palate is clean, soft, and textured, with medium acidity, spicy core with pulpy fruit and peppery notes. Its light phenolics are almost zesty, they preserve the freshness, the finish is sapid and tonic. Lovely texture. Very good, keep 3-5 years. 88 plus. 

La Suffrène Deep redcurrant pink, stony nose with blossoms veil and red fruits. Dry, with fresh medium to plus feel, but medium acidity, moderate plus tannins, with dusty finish on spices, and generous character. Rather full, spicy, warming. Very good, Keep to the decade. 

Pibarnon – Nuances –Deep cherry, almost pale ruby. Raspberry, cherry, blossoms, almonds on the nose. Dry, medium acidity, it stays fresh thanks to its tannins, with a dry abrupt finish on spices, bitter almonds, but also juicy raspberry and cherry.  Structured, medium plus to full bodied, texture is lean, and finish is long. Very good, should wait another 3-5 years before enjoying it at its best after a decade. 

La Noblesse – Pignatel -Medium salmon pink, fresh fruit, such as strawberry entwined with stony glints. Dry, with fleshy core, medium acidity, powdered tannins, it is spicy, generous, full, with focused fresh finish on zests and fresh raspberry. Elegant, very good, 3-5 years potential. 

La Font des Peres Pale peachy pink, stony, reductive, but not reduced nose, it offers some peaches. Dry, with fresh attack, it is juicy, spicy, with medium alcohol and body. Lean, fresh and vibrant finish with pepper and liquorice. Very elegant, very good and youthful, Keep to the decade. Opens as it breathes. 

Bastide de la Ciselette – Lou Pigna – Pale mango colour, nose is discreet, with a touch of blossoms and vine peach. Dry, ripe and intense, with medium acidity and tannins, moderate plus alcohol, with savoury finish and salivating character, juicy fruit and spices. Very good, keep to the decade.

2019.

A very warm vintage which despite the late budding was rather early- harvesting due to its hot and dry summer, some days continuously offering 35°C! The harvest was in excellent state though in small quantity and of a high concentration of sugar and aromatic potential. Acidities are softer for rosés; wines seem generous and spicy but preserve a juicy fruit and perfect balance in most of the cases. An excellent level overall, which drinks well now but has potential for further aging, without becoming flabby and heavy. Resin, anise and liquorice appear constantly and offer an identifiable style. 

Bastide Blanche- Medium strawberry pink. Blossomy evolution, of a medium intensity, offering strawberry and cream, candied mango with a hint of resin. Dry, with mellow attack, it is still very refreshing thanks to a combination of juiciness, spices, balsamic scents and firm phenolics. With medium plus alcohol and body, the wine is typical with anise, liquorice and a hint of pepper. Very long, very good. 6- 7 years plus. 

Pibarnon – Deep salmon pink. Delicate nose, offering typical resin, old furniture scents, few fruit. Dry, vertical, medium acidity, showing firm, but integrated phenolics, with spices and creamy notes, and a sapid, dense finish. Over 5- years aging potential. Very good, charming. 

La Bégude – Pale ruby or almost deep redcurrant pink. Deep nose displaying redcurrants, cranberries, cherries, a hint of kirsch. Dry, vivid, tannins are high for a rose, almost recalling light red tannins. Flavours offer lots of red fruits, spices, the finish is long and sapid, with lovely salivation and airy balsamic aftertaste. Long, structured. Very good plus, keep around 8- 10 years. 

Canadel – Medium orange pink. Intense, with candied fruits such as apricot, mango, some peony scents. Lovely nose with aniseed aromas. Dry, ripe, and mellow, with smooth texture, medium to low but still fresh acidity, the finish has a long spicy character with nice rounded up phenolics, offering tangerine peel, oriental spices. Will keep for 6- 7 years at least. 

Bunan – Château La Rouvière – Deep salmon pink. Developed nose, showing peaches compote, orange peel. Large and mellow, with soft texture, low acid structure, it holds on phenolics. With spicy aromas and rather good complexity, it is full, fleshy and lingers with pepper, liquorice, a creamy touch on the long finish. Very good. Drink within 2-3 years. 

Gueissard Medium orange pink. Clean and intense, exotic, offering baking spices. Dry, rounded up, with medium acidity but fresh feel, serious phenolics, spiced up by its long finish with scents of pepper, liquorice and candied zests. Very good, long and age worthy. 

Pibarnon – Nuances –Deep ruby, showing some development, with red fruit and Jonathan apple. The palate is dry, mellow, with medium, soft acid structure, the finish is long with fine phenolics, lingering with oriental spices and creamy scents. Superb structure and vibrancy, an excellent, age worthy wine. 

La Suffrène – Deep salmon pink, clean, developed, displaying baking spices, cumin, preserved citrus, strawberry compote. Dry, with ripe attack, it is structured and textured, with moderate, digest alcohol, fresh feel and nice phenolics, with a grainy bite. Superb spicy finish. 7- 8 years to go. Good to very good. 

Pradeaux –- Deep pink. Nose is clean and elegant showing potpourri, spices, few fruits. Structured, with medium acid structure, tannins are moderate, alcohol is generous, texture is rich, the finish is spicy. A rounded up and silky wine, with vintage typicality. Excellent and still long- living. 

Salettes – Medium orange pink. Soft, with orange marmalade, spices, resin, baking spices. Concentrated, smooth, tannic, with a gentle acid structure, concentrated alcohol, and lots of spices. Superb bitter marmalade aftertaste. Excellent.  

2018.

This vintage came after a series of warm, and rather dry ones causing already a stress. The vine quenched its thirst due to generous rainfall beginning with springtime. The growing cycle re- established itself, but the humid weather combined with the warmth caused tropical conditions that were perfect for unfortunately developing lots of mildew. The extra wet summer couldn´t be worse in this case. Vintners will always have this vintage in mind due to this important fungal threat that gave a heterogenous harvest with high quantity but difficult sanitary state. Manual harvest with important sorting was the key, and Mourvèdre resisted rather well. The grapes preserved important levels of acidities offering freshness and lean, slender profiles. The vintage seems to develop already, herbal character is a constant feature and the wine seem delicate, silk with slightly firm finish. 

Bunan – Château La Rouvière – medium apricot pink, intense nose, ripe fruit and spices, peach compote and apricot. Dry, with medium minus acidity, structured phenolics and moderate alcohol, the finish is long and spicy, with fleshy fruit, and nice development offering candied aromas. Bon +. 

La Bégude Deep redcurrant colour, the nose shows resin, fruit is developed, with stony, iody background. The palate is dry, with medium body, alcohol, and acid, nice phenolics, herbal and resin perfumes, and lovely fruit with stony character. Good and age worthy for the vintage. 

La Suffrène – Sainte Catherine – Medium orange pink, nose is delicate, offering orange peel, apricot, with a light dry, rich, warm, medium acid, high alcohol, rich texture, spicy, with medium phenolics, body, and quite lengthy, spicy. Very good. 

La Bégude – L´Irréductible – deep salmon, coppery pink, nose is slightly restrained with some bitter orange. Dry with juicy core, soft acidity, tannins are medium, and the palate is spicy with a long peppery finish. Very good. 

2017.

The vintage started with hydric deficiency; rain only arrived in March, when budburst also occurred. April was chaotic with frost and hail, but starting with May drought would be beck, except for some hailstorms. July and August were completely dry with a very meridional climate and some powdery mildew threat. Small, concentrated quantity, very good quality overall: despite coulure on Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre was excellent. Rosés tend to preserve good fruit that developed from the original red crunchy berries into a more candied character, with juicy acidities still there and lovely textures. 

La Font des Peres – Pale salmon pink, nose is delicate, offering orange, potpourri, spices, and a hint of apricot. Dry with gentle acidity, the core is juicy, spicy, the finish is long with some phenolics, and a nice spicy character. Long, very good. 6-7 years. 

La Noblesse – medium apricot pink, the nose is clean with stony character, revealing apricots, some orange peel. Dry with some surprising CO2 still present, it offers fresh feel, moderate alcohol, with a nice structure based on moderate phenolics. Its spicy finish with orange peel, nice bitter zests, is long and sapid. Very good.

Bunan – Chateau La Rouvière bright and deep orange pink, with lots of spices, orange peel, juicy core with medium acidity and fresh feel, with a medium plus body and alcohol, structured tannins, spicy finish. Excellent.

Bastide Blanche – Medium apricot to salmon pink. Blossomy, airy, with orange marmalade, carvi, almonds aromas, it is dry, soft, with smooth attack, medium acidity, textured, long and spicy. Very good and age- worthy. 

La Suffrène – Sainte Catherine – medium pink, nose is clean, with bright fruit complemented by orange peel, resin, with terpenic development. The palate is clean and silky with a medium but fresh acidity, the alcohol is moderate enhancing a spicy character. Long and sapid, offering orange zest, candied peach, and apricot, lingering with some liquorice. Very good, to keep for the next 4-5 years. 

Jean- Pierre Gaussen – Medium orange/ salmon pink. Nutty development, with some almonds, light but very positive oxidative character, with few fruits, spices, orange peel. The palate is dry, ripe, and rounded up, acidity is moderate cutting through the fleshy core and the tannins are medium to plus, the aftertaste is long and spicy. Excellent, 6- 8 years of aging potential. 

La Ribotte – medium orange pink, delicate nose, with orange peel, with discreet fruit and a nice spiciness. Dry and rounded up with a medium to low acidity, the wine is ripe and spicy, zesty and long. Peach compote, apricot, spices, linger with a minty twist. Excellent. 

Pradeaux – deep orange/ salmon pink, the nose is creamy, offering sweet vanilla and spices to complement the candied fruit. Dry, textured and rounded up, with nice balanced phenolics, it stays fresh despite the spices. A long complex finish, excellent wine to keep to the decade. 

2016. 

Compared to 2017, 2016 started with even more hydric deficiency due to a 2015 particularly dry autumn. The vintage continued being dry all along the cycle, but the vine could get good water reserves from the soil and develop both vegetation and quantity. The sanitary state was excellent, with superb concentration, meridional character and aromas for a vintage that was rather precocious, with very good phenolic maturity and rather balanced acidities. The rosés preserve this fresh feel despite a rich and generous character with lots of spices. Phenolics are present and frame the palate, wines are lovely overall with seducing nose and few fruit development, still preserving a good aging potential. 

Bunan – Château La Rouvière Deep orange pink, nose is of a medium intensity, offering bitter orange, blood orange, baking spices. Dry, with moderate acidity and fresh feel it has a juicy palate, both lean and silky, with medium plus alcohol, medium body. Finish is zesty, lingering with bitter orange, marmalade, spices. Keep for the next 6-7 years. 

La Bégude – Deep redcurrant colour, clean and fresh, with notes of strawberry coulis, cinnamon, tonka fava. Palate is dry, fresh with medium plus acidity and alcohol, tannins are high and firm for a rose, wrapped with a satin- like texture. Finish is firm, grainy, with fruit and spices. Candied cranberry and strawberry coulis, pomegranate syrup. Excellent, 4-5 years plus. 

La Noblesse – Medium orange pink, nose is clean, nice reductiveness, offering iody, stony character, notes of baked apple, pear compote and a touch of peach. Oriental spices. Dry, with supple attack that is both textured and dense with mild acidity and fine, soft tannins, it is intense, with peach compote, apple, spices flavours. Finish lingers with bitter marmalade and liquorice. Excellent, keep up to 6-8 years. 

Pibarnon – Nuances – deep apricot pink, nose is intense, displaying pot pourri, blossoms and spices, with candied red fruit, notes of toastiness, almonds, toasted hazelnuts. Dry, large and silky, with soft acidity, high but digest alcohol, enhancing the spices, offering complex flavours of almonds, cherry, cherry pit. It is long sapid, and spicy, outstanding rosé that can live to the decade. 

Marie-Bérénice – deep orange pink. Marmalade, peach compote, baking spices, pot pourri, some smoke on the complex nose. Dry, medium acidity, fresh feel, silky texture, elegant and supple, with elevated alcohol, medium phenolics and intense flavours of baked fruit, apple, nectarine, marmalade, with spices and almonds, long and salivating finish. Very good, 6-8 years plus. 

Roche Redonne – La Lyre Deep orange pink, intense nose, offering orange jam, tangerine peel, baking spices, potpourri, some strawberry jam, light flint, and toast. Dry, with medium acidity and fresh feel, medium to plus alcohol but very digest and integrated with the creamy and elegant texture, with medium phenolics, grainy finish imprinted with spices, aniseed, toast, cream, and tangerine jam. Long and aromatic aftertaste with a touch of rose, peony, some orange blossoms. Excellent, can keep for minimum of 5 years. 

Pradeaux –Deep orange pink, clean, intense and spicy, flinty, with an oily touch, spices, peach jam, blood orange, tangerine, dry, lean, fresh, medium plus feel of the acidity, the alcohol is high but digest, just spicy with a peppery ton, the texture is silky, the tannins are firm, medium plus and grainy, with a grippy bite on the finish, with the peppery, liquorice, citrus peel, touch of bitterness, faded flowers. Excellent, 6-7 years plus. 

Tempier –Medium salmon pink with a touch of apricot on the rim, the nose is discreet, with light reduction slowly revealing fresh fruit, apricots, peaches, with peppery and spicy hints. The palate is dry and vivid with elevated acidity for the vintage and a juicy core with high, firm, and dusty tannins, lots of spices, such as liquorice and pepper enhanced by the generous alcohol. The finish is long and spicy but refreshing. Excellent, it can last to the decade. 

Bastide Blanche – Deep salmon pink, some reddish hues, it is intense, oily, and flinty, with red fruit, strawberry sirup, pomegranate, liquorice, potpourri, aniseed sweets, marmalade, rose sherbet. Superb complexity. The palate is clean and fleshy with tannic bite, lots of spices, medium to plus/ high alcohol, but very refreshing fruit with aniseed, liquorice and biter orange zests, candied orange, mint and balsamics. Deep, long. Excellent, keep to the decade. 

La Suffrène – deep salmon pink, intense red fruit, pomegranate, wild strawberry, some nectarine, peony, faded rose and anis on iodine background. The palate is clean and lean, acidity is medium, so is alcohol, while tannins are high and firm. The fruit is very juvenile with a spicy twist, complemented by cream, caramel, oriental spices. A wine that offers both body, structure, and length, with intense pomegranate, spices, bitter candied zests. Outstanding. 10 years potential. 

2015.

A solar vintage which luckily benefited from good water reserves accumulated during winter, 2015 was dry and particularly warm with its last precipitations by mid- Mai and a brief episode one month later. The sanitary state was excellent with very precise maturities and no need for sorting. A lovely vintage, with flattering fruit expressions for its rosés, with rich alcohol and fleshy body, moderately fresh, but seducing by their pulpy fruit, their spices framed by a serious tannic bite.

La Ribotte Deep salmon pink, with apricot shades, the nose is blossomy, offering peony, rose, faded flowers, potpourri, candied orange, and apricots. Dry, with low but fresh acid feel, with creamy texture, fleshy core, medium plus tannins, digest alcohol, the finish is spicy with waxy, potpourri character. Very good, 4- 5 years maybe for the aging potential. 

Canadel Pale apricot/ mango pink, nose is clean and stony, offering hints of cream, vanilla, peach, nectarine, oriental spices, such as cumin. Dry, with medium acidity that feels fresh and rounded up body with flesh and juicy character, the tannins are dusty and moderate, the finish is spicy, with blossoms, acacia honey and a touch of cream, some toasted spices. Very good, 4-5 years plus.

La Bégude – L´Irreductible Deep redcurrant pink/ pale ruby, it is vibrant and intense, with red fruit character: cranberry jam, strawberry, pomegranate, blossom, spices like liquorice, aniseed, a touch of mint. The palate is dry, with surprising CO2 presence and vertical backbone, very fresh feel despite medium acid and high alcohol. Its elevated and firm tannins are imprinted with a spicy grain, evoking pepper, liquorice and finish lingers with a touch of blood orange. Medium- bodied and structured, but not textured. Good to very good, keep for the next 5-6 years plus. 

Pibarnon Deep salmon pink, its nose offers an oxidative development with sotolon, walnuts, smoke, meaty character, and bitter orange marmalade. Dry, concentrated, generous with low acid structure, recalling Sherry- ish oxidative character, tannins are high and structured, the palate is imbued with spices, mainly liquorice, toasted notes, apple compote. Finish is long, umami- rich, and somehow savoury. Very good and peculiar. 

2014.

A roller-coaster vintage, with good water reserves, fresh climate globally but undergoing the powdery mildew threat due to a luxuriant vegetative growth. Hopefully the mistral counterbalanced the trend, and the maturity was long and even, providing good conditions for Grenache Noir (less affected by coulure than in 2013) and Mourvèdre. The Cinsault had a more heterogenous curve, while the harvest has been interrupted by a hailstorm and generous rainfall. Rosés were fruity and elegant and still preserve this fresh style, with delicate structure and lighter body than usually. The have developed rather quickly and most of them are to be drunk by now. 

Salette Medium orange pink/ mango pink, nose is clean and intense with a fresh and juicy style offering peaches, apricot compote, almonds, with a slightly oxidative development, hints of flint and smoke. Dry, with light texture, medium acidity, medium plus alcohol, moderate tannins, it has a spicy, creamy finish as if it had oak maturing. Good/ very good.

2013. 

Pibarnon Deep orange pink, the nose shows candied cherry, almonds, kirsch, earthy notes of mushroom. Dry, light, with medium acidity, alcohol, and tannins, it is balanced and rather light with warming finish and bitter almonds glints. Good.  

2012.

La Bégude – L´irréductible Deep apricot pink, nose is clean and fresh, offering candied orange, blossoms, spices, orange peel, some almonds. Palate is fresh and linear, with medium acidity, medium alcohol, and medium plus tannin with grainy character. Almonds, orange peel, long, elegant mid- bodied wine, lingering with curry and spices on the finish. Very good. Drink over the next 2-3 years. 

2011.

La Bégude – L´Irreductible Deep apricot pink, almost light ruby. Toast, spices, liquorice, candied cherry, cherry pit on the nose. Dry, rounded up, with medium but fresh acidity, alcohol is medium plus but digest, tannins are grainy and textured. With fine long finish, offering both body, and density, with cherry flavours and almonds, hints of spices, this is still a very good wine, 2- 3 years plus.

Pradeaux Deep orange pink, clean and delicate nose with a waxy character also displaying mushrooms, almonds, fenugreek, candied apricot. Dry with medium acidity, alcohol is elevated, tannins are medium plus with a fine grain. Finish displays spices and a very nice waxy touch. 

Tempier Medium mango pink, clean and delicate with a fine apricot fruit and a nice spicy character, the wine is dry, fleshy, with medium acidity and has a spicy core with medium plus alcohol. Tannins are moderate and have a fine toasty grain. Long, juicy, with lots of apricot and peach notes, the long aftertaste offers curry, cumin. Very good. 

2010.

Pradeaux Medium mango pink, superb nose offering dried apricot, Mirabelle plum, blossoms, on iodine background with some spices. Dry, almost sherry- ish dry, with medium acidity, the alcohol is medium plus and the texture is light, offering a moderate body. Finish is long, warming, and spicy, lingering with almonds, some curry. Good. 84 

La Ribotte Deep orange, coppery pink, the nose is clean and shows flinty aromas, candied orange, Mirabelle plums, with a fine and spicy character, rather mild acid structure and generous alcohol, medium/ low tannins with intense, pungent flavours evoking curry, spices, and bitter orange peel. Long waxy finish, with hints of honey, juicy character and glints of almonds, some walnuts. Good, drink now.

Terrebrune Medium orange pink, the nose is clean evoking faded roses complemented by some spices. Palate is clean, fresh, juicy despite the soft acid structure. With medium plus alcohol, the finish is long and spicy, the tannins are dusty. Walnuts, pepper, cumin, curry finish. Very good.