Details:
Product Details
From: Provence, France
Blend: 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 25% Cinsault
Critical Acclaim: WS 91 Wine Spectator
Demure but distinctive, with lovely range, this leads with white raspberry and cherry blossom notes, revealing hints of jasmine and mango through the creamy finish. Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsaut. Drink now.
JS 91 James Suckling
Aromas of pink nectarines, dried orange peel, summer flowers, herbs and minerals. It is full and rounded with sleek, silky texture and a polished, mineral finish. It is both rich and crunchy. Drink now.
Taste: In the glass, you’ll find notes of red grapefruit zest and lemon, followed by exotic fruits (passion fruit, persimmon, kaffir lime) and a subtly spicy character. On the palate, flavors bursts with the tang of citrus, ginger, stone fruit and passion fruit, met seamlessly by the underlying minerality - a testament to the unique limestone bedrock of the Terrebrune vineyard.
The wine resonates with an ethereal quality - a testament to the Mourvèdre dominance, displaying a refreshing coolness unusual for the varietal. Its structure is sleek and rounded, unfolding in a dance of rich yet crunchy elements. The finale is a polished mineral finish, elegantly culminating the tasting journey with the echo of the Mediterranean Sea's salty breeze.
Pairing: This extraordinary rosé pairs perfectly with a range of Mediterranean dishes—from bouillabaisse to stuffed vegetables, pesto pasta, roasted chicken, or Niçoise salad. It also complements salmon, duck, lamb, and barbecue veggie skewers wonderfully (we’re sharing a Provençal classic as an alternative to this note in Melissa Clark’s recipe for Aioli with Roasted Vegetables below, check it out below!). Don’t forget the soft cheeses and charcuterie—it is, after all, a rosé that appreciates variety.
Aioli With Roasted Vegetables
By Melissa Clark
About. In the world of viticulture, the journey of the vine is one of resilience and beauty. It is a story carved out of the earth, weathered by the elements, and nurtured by human hands. And it is within this delicate dance between nature and mankind that the prestigious Domaine de Terrebrune vineyard has cultivated its 2021 Bandol Rosé, a testament to the remarkable transformation of the noble Mourvèdre grape.
Before becoming a renowned vigneron, Georges Delille trained as a sommelier in Paris. In 1963, he ventured east of Bandol, purchasing what would later become Domaine de Terrebrune in the picturesque town of Ollioules. The property, nestled between the radiant Mediterranean and the towering Gros-Cerveau mountain, brims with scenic vistas and olive groves—a truly idyllic backdrop for the cultivation of grapes.
Georges arrived at a pivotal time in Bandol’s history. In the wake of the A.O.C. Bandol declaration in 1941, vignerons were galvanized, embarking on massive overhauls and vineyard reconstructions to reestablish the revered Mourvèdre grape. For Georges, this meant a decade of property renovations—terracing hillsides, reforming masonry, replanting vineyards under the guidance of Lucien Peyraud, resting soils to rejuvenate them, and building a new cellar. In 1980, his son Reynald, a freshly minted winemaking school graduate, joined him. Together, they bottled their first Domaine de Terrebrune vintage, a tribute to the fertile, brown soils they lovingly tend to.
What distinguishes Reynald’s Bandols is their otherworldly quality—an unparalleled freshness that belies the Mourvèdre’s dominance in the final assemblage. This unique character is an interplay of soil, climate, and human artistry. Underneath Terrebrune’s clay and earth layers, the blue, fissured, Trias limestone bedrock subtly influences the wine's flavor profile. This profound minerality, unique to Terrebrune, is an eloquent testament to the land's organic farming practices and the gentle maritime breezes funneling directly from the Mediterranean, ensuring that the grapes are protected from the glaring sun. This tender interplay of factors contributes to wines with an extraordinary potential for long-term cellaring, including the rosé and dry white.
The 2021 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé is more than just a fashionable choice—it's a serious, terroir-driven wine. Its nose boasts of thyme and white peach, capturing the essence of a Provençal summer, and concludes with a tantalizingly salty finish—a reminder of the sea's proximity. The rosé is an exquisite blend of 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 25% Cinsault, showcasing the careful fermentation processes that lend it an impressive aging potential of up to 10 years.
Elizabeth Gabay MW captures the unique qualities of Bandol Rosé perfectly. She notes that the Bandol terroir confers Mourvèdre with added ripeness, more substantial fruit weight, and structure. The 2021 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé encapsulates this distinctive quality, offering a delightful sensory experience—from its delicate aroma of red grapefruit and lemon zest to its exotic, spicy character and bountiful flavors, including passion fruit. It culminates in a beautifully refreshing minerality imparted by the limestone soil.
The 2021 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé has garnered critical acclaim. Wine Spectator gave it a score of 91, noting its distinctive range and creamy finish, while James Suckling highlighted its rich yet crunchy character and polished, mineral finish.