In This Newsletter:
Domaine Tempier & Bandol Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Dal Forno
Stock Up & Save On:
Domaine Tempier and Bandol
Domaine Tempier & Bandol Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Dal Forno
Stock Up & Save On:
Domaine Tempier and Bandol
Let’s journey to the south of France to the Provencal wine region of Bandol. Here is the second home of Mourvèdre (known as Monastrall in its home country of Spain). This bold red results in one of the biggest and richest wines in the world that still manages impeccable balance.
Domaine Tempier is the most famous producer in the region, best known for its mineral-driven and cellar-friendly rosé. The reds, though, are criminally underrated and underappreciated, especially to lovers of bold, full-throttle wines. They represent the pinnacle of Mourvèdre-based blends that could convince even the most die-hard Rhone or Cali Cab lovers to expand their horizons, if only one could manage to convince them to try.
Bandol reds in general offer a distinct earthiness and a spicy, bright finish. And they age remarkably. Mourvèdre effortlessly transcends its decades much like Nebbiolo. So, pick up a few and prepare to have your mind blow now and for decades to come.
Domaine Tempier is the most famous producer in the region, best known for its mineral-driven and cellar-friendly rosé. The reds, though, are criminally underrated and underappreciated, especially to lovers of bold, full-throttle wines. They represent the pinnacle of Mourvèdre-based blends that could convince even the most die-hard Rhone or Cali Cab lovers to expand their horizons, if only one could manage to convince them to try.
Bandol reds in general offer a distinct earthiness and a spicy, bright finish. And they age remarkably. Mourvèdre effortlessly transcends its decades much like Nebbiolo. So, pick up a few and prepare to have your mind blow now and for decades to come.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Bandol
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Bandol
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, May 9th at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Bandol
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Friday, May 9th at 9 am Pacific.
We offer thirteen in-stock Bandol options on sale now, including:
Domaine Tempier Bandol Blanc 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Tempier’s Blanc, with its delicate florals, subtle note of anise, and stony finish, tastes perfect alongside shellfish or grilled seafood. After a few years in your cellar, pair it with cheeses or serve it alone to appreciate the “honeyed and marine aromas” that develop with age.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Tempier Bandol Blanc 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Yohan Castaing-Wine Advocate 93 points “A blend of 60% Clairette and 30% Ugni Blanc complemented with Rolle, Bourboulenc and Marsanne, the 2023 Bandol Blanc exhales a complex, perfumed bouquet of ripe orchard fruits, lemon, acacia flowers, spring flowers and confit citrus. Medium-bodied, textured and enveloping, it’s delicate with a fleshy mid-palate, bright acids and a long, mineral finish. This is a stunning white wine that will offer a broad drinking window.”
Domaine Bunan Chateau de la Rouviere Bandol Rosé 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “[Translated] Frank and intensly floral. Full and rich in the mouth with a pale color.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Tempier Bandol Pour Lulu 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $56, that’s $53.20 at 5% off and $50.40 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Tasted from foudre, the 2020 Bandol Cuvee Classique had been blended the week before my visit. Already showing classic notes of tree bark and truffle layered against cherries and raspberries and a touch of olive, it looks relatively precocious. In the mouth, it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated and rich, with a long, plush finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Tempier Bandol 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Falstaff Magazine 93 points “Vivid notes of ripe strawberry immediately hit the nose with red-fruited charm, opening up into aromatic notes of summer pudding. The palate is smooth and just as fruity. This is rounded and medium bodied, brimming with that ripe, fresh berry fruit and an ample, full-fruited yet utterly fresh, summery richness.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Tempier Bandol ‘Lulu & Lucien’ 2022 1.5L Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now
Winery Note “The Estate’s prominent cuvée blends the discrete strength of Bandol with the elegance and finesse which characterize Tempier. This complexity is a result of different terroirs of the estate and the variety of its clay-limestone soil located around the Estate but also in La Cadière, Sainte Anne d’Evenos, and Ollioules. There are sandy marls, limestone greseux from santonien, rudist limestone and recent barely deep horizons of colluvions. Plus, there are various sun or wind exposures. Composition: Mourvèdre (~ 75%) with Grenache and Cinsault and a smaller proportion of Carignan and Syrah. Average age of the vines: 35 – 40 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the magnum!
Domaine Tempier Bandol Cuvée Cabassaou 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $128, that’s $121.60 at 5% off and $115.20 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Cabassaou cuvée (ça cabasse = gives a hefty punch) is from a terroir with small stone walls, at the bottom of the Tourtine, protected from the Mistral wind. The vines benefit from a very warm micro-climate with thermal winds. Paradoxically the vines are located at the bottom of the hill but the soil is not deep and the yields are very small. They give a very dense, tight wine, typically Mourvèdre , with an exceptional aging potential. Composition: Mourvèdre (92 to 94%), with Syrah and a bit of Cinsault. Average age of the vines : 60 years minimum.”
Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $81.80, that’s $77.71 at 5% off and $73.62 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2020 Bandol la Migoua—tasted from foudre—is a bit tarry and rubbery (expected, to some degree, in young Mourvèdre-based wines) but opens up to reveal seductive, ripe notes of blackberries and mulberries. A blend of approximately 55% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault, 15% Grenache and 5% Syrah, it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate, concentrated but silky in feel and elegant on the long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Tempier Bandol La Migoua 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $84.50, that’s $80.28 at 5% off and $76.05 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “In 2021, this cuvée recalls the classique above, but with everything dialed up a notch. Savory and structured, it evokes Provençal garrigue, licorice, and a hint of black olive. This bottling is a strong candidate for your cellar but also open enough to pair wonderfully with a ribeye today.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Tempier Bandol La Tourtine 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Mainly Mourvèdre (85%), with Cinsault and Grenache, the 2020 Bandol la Tourtine was still in foudre at the time of my visit last year. Scents of cola, smoke and red berries provide ample complexity on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is concentrated and almost creamy in texture while remaining fresh and dynamic on the lengthy finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Tempier Bandol La Tourtine 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $84.50, that’s $80.28 at 5% off and $76.05 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “At this stage, La Tourtine is the most open, fruit-forward, and alluring of the three reds here. Zesty and vibrant, with notes of black cherries, blood orange, and iron, this bottle will be hard to keep your hands off now. But do yourself a favor and grab at least a few bottles to revisit in five, ten, and twenty years from now. There are few pleasures like aged Bandol rouge from Tempier.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Ray-Jane Bandol Rouge 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
“Cooked dark fruit, mocha, rich chocolate and interesting farmyard notes, before a smoky finish.” -Decanter Magazine
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shop our thirteen Bandol selections now!
Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:
Dal Forno
For over thirty years, the Dal Forno family has been crafting deeply concentrated expressions of Valpolicella and Amarone. Their name practically defines the style of wines from this northeastern portion of the Veneto.
Established in 1983 by Romano Dal Forno, the estate vaulted to the heights of perfection in the Venato. The family employs traditional winemaking techniques, such as extended drying of the grapes before pressing, to craft their serious and seriously concentrated wines.
Vines hail from the foothills at around 1,000 feet above sea level. Here, the family’s 65 acres are planted to indigenous varieties such as Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, grown and pruned according to ancient traditions.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2007 750ml Was $179, Now $149 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2007 Valpolicella Superiore from the celebrated Monte Lodoletta vineyard is rock-tight with a midnight black appearance and aromas that emerge with fierce determination. The fascinating aromatic medley includes dark spice, prune, Spanish cedar, tar, black licorice, balsam herb and blackberry tart. The mouthfeel is plush and rich with super-tight tannins that grip nervously to the finish. It has only started its bottle evolution and requires more time to soften and develop. Drink 2017-2035.”
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2008 750ml Was $169, Now $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “A dark, super-ripe wine, the 2008 Valpolicella Superiore is fabulous in this vintage. Smoke, tar, incense, licorice and blackberry jam hit the palate in a massive, intense Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Even with all of the concentration, the 2008 is quite a bit less tannic than some recent vintages have been, which makes it accessible even today, especially if given a little air. There is a lot to admire in this drop-dead gorgeous Valpolicella from Romano Dal Forno.”
Established in 1983 by Romano Dal Forno, the estate vaulted to the heights of perfection in the Venato. The family employs traditional winemaking techniques, such as extended drying of the grapes before pressing, to craft their serious and seriously concentrated wines.
Vines hail from the foothills at around 1,000 feet above sea level. Here, the family’s 65 acres are planted to indigenous varieties such as Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, grown and pruned according to ancient traditions.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2007 750ml Was $179, Now $149 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2007 Valpolicella Superiore from the celebrated Monte Lodoletta vineyard is rock-tight with a midnight black appearance and aromas that emerge with fierce determination. The fascinating aromatic medley includes dark spice, prune, Spanish cedar, tar, black licorice, balsam herb and blackberry tart. The mouthfeel is plush and rich with super-tight tannins that grip nervously to the finish. It has only started its bottle evolution and requires more time to soften and develop. Drink 2017-2035.”
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2008 750ml Was $169, Now $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “A dark, super-ripe wine, the 2008 Valpolicella Superiore is fabulous in this vintage. Smoke, tar, incense, licorice and blackberry jam hit the palate in a massive, intense Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Even with all of the concentration, the 2008 is quite a bit less tannic than some recent vintages have been, which makes it accessible even today, especially if given a little air. There is a lot to admire in this drop-dead gorgeous Valpolicella from Romano Dal Forno.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2009 750ml Was $149, Now $125 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Built like a tank, the 2009 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a masterful achievement. This wine shows so beautifully, especially in a warm but balanced vintage like 2009. The fruit is expressive and articulate with deep layers of blackberry preserves, dried cherry, dark chocolate, espresso bean, mesquite smoke and soy sauce. The mouthfeel is super rich and concentrated as the Dal Forno signature style would dictate. The tannic bite is still strong and this wine needs a few more years to stretch out its muscular build. I’d suggest drinking it after 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2016 750ml Was $135, Now $112 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is intense, with a captivating bouquet that blends cedar shavings, savory herbs and balsamic spices with rum-soaked cherries, sweet lavender and dark chocolate. This sweeps across the palate with silken textures, delivering masses of tart red and black fruits along with hints of espresso bean. Crunchy mineral tones and zesty acidity add dramatic lift. The 2016 tapers off long and staining, sporting a pleasantly bitter tinge of cocoa as grippy tannins resonate. The 2016 is a well-muscled dancer yet still youthfully coiled.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2017 750ml Was $138, Now $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “Taking in the 2017 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta reminds me of all of the desserts spices and confections experienced on Christmas day. An array of medicinal cherries plum sauce ginger cookies cloves cinnamon and dried roses captivate. There’s tremendous depth here but it maintains fantastic freshness. This is wildly spicy and intense yet deep with brilliant acidity adding energy seldom found in Valpolicella which enlivens the crunchy red fruits and pretty inner florals within. The 2017 finishes dramatically long and perfumed resonating on sour blackberries currants and a bitter hint of cocoa. This goes far beyond the expectation of Valpolicella with the power and aromatics of an Amarone but with a liveliness that will allow it to excel at the dinner table.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2012 750ml Was $379, Now $329 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “A decadent nose of treacle tart, chocolate, tar, tons of black fruit such as blackberries and mulberries and even ash and licorice. A dense, layered mouthfeel makes for a full-bodied palate that’s explosive yet somehow so refined and pretty all at the same time. The finish goes on and on. Incredible now, but better to wait for this giant to settle well into 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2015 750ml Was $419, Now $379 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 100 points “This is black as pitch in the glass and, yes, there’s a light, tarry edge to the super-concentrated prune, date and currant fruit. But even more interesting are the complex notes of bitter-orange liqueur, aged balsamic, fresh roasting herbs, cinnamon, roasted chestnuts, black tea and licorice. The more you decant in advance, the more nuances will emerge. It’s full-boded with huge concentration and lots of chewy tannin that is managing to hold the fruit back for now. This needs plenty of time to develop in the bottle. Just superb. One of the greatest Dal Forno’s ever.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2017 750ml Was $449, Now $399 special, 4 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “The current release. A tour de force, despite the sheer morass of palate-staining fruit. The malty oak is evident, yet operates as a welcome adjunct to corral and compress the swashbuckle of coffee grinds, beef bouillon, mint, leather varnish and saturated dark cherry liqueur, into a sheath of tension as much as sheer power. Grapes are dried for 70-80 days. This may seem obvious initially, but as one works it out in the glass and across the inner gums, the multitudinous layers become evident. A wine that shape-shifts and beguiles, as much it wrestles with the senses. Excellent. Drink or hold.”
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
Faiveley
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles of Faiveley
10% off any 6+ or more in-stock bottles of Faiveley
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Faiveley sale ends Wednesday, May 7th at 9 am Pacific.