2008 Bandol Migoua

From a south facing hill averaging 270 meters above sea level (the highest altitude of all the vineyards) and made from roughly 50-65% Mourvedre and the rest a fair chunk of Cinsault and then Grenache, the 2008 Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Spéciale La Migoua is wild and slightly exotic, showing crisp black cherry, ground stone, charcoal, hung game, meat, and earth aromas and flavors. With air, the wine picks up additional minerality and has an almost feral quality that’s hard to describe. Certainly less polished and thick than the La Tourtine, this has a classic, textbook Mourvedre profile (even though it has less Mourvedre in the blend… go figure.) Medium+ bodied on the palate and edgy and structured, with fantastic purity of fruit, a brilliantly focused, pure texture, crisp acids, and loads of tannin and structure, this fantastic wine should be left along for 3-5 years, and then consumed over the following decade or longer. A gorgeous wine that I’d be happy to drink any time.