Rosé has become so fashionable it’s almost a brand, but as with any other wine, there is tremendous variation in style and quality based on production zone, the grape varieties involved, farming, and, crucially, winemaking. For all the carefree pleasure and refreshment rosé provides, remember that it can also be a serious wine that expresses a sense of place.
Terrebrune’s Bandol epitomizes this idea of a terroir-driven rosé, from the nose of thyme and white peach, redolent of a Provençal summer, to its mouthwateringly salty finish, a reminder that the sea is just a stone’s throw away. For conclusive evidence that this is no ordinary rosé, save a bottle for five, ten, or twenty years—a pleasant surprise awaits.
—Anthony Lynch
Wine Type: Rosé
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750mL
Blend: 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, 25% Cinsault
Appellation: Bandol
Country: France
Region: Provence
Producer: Domaine de Terrebrune
Winemaker: Reynald Delille
Vineyard: 10 years average
Soil: Limestone pebbles in brown clay, blue limestone bedrock, marl
Aging: Ages for 6-8 months in stainless steel tank before bottling
Farming: Organic (certified)
Alcohol: 13.5%
