Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninhigh
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Finishlong
Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 10 to 35 years from vintage.
vintage10 yrs35 yrs37 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedHigh tanninHigh acidityDryLong finish

Aroma: dark cherry, tar, incense, black olive

Palate: blackberry preserve, graphite, leather, iron

Almost-pure Mourvedre from a wind-sheltered, low-yielding parcel within La Tourtine. The most structured Tempier cuvee: dense, brooding and graphite-driven, with a tannin frame that demands decades.

What it pairs with

  • Slow-roast venison saddle
    Cabassaou's iron and graphite grip frames game's deep meat; the wine's incense edge reads as autumnal.
  • Aged Bordier butter on grilled steak
    The dense Mourvedre tannins find balance in the cultured-butter fat; salt sharpens the dark fruit.
  • Truffled risotto
    Cabassaou's earthy depth meets truffle's umami; the wine's tannin handles cheese-bound rice.
  • Pied bleu mushroom ragout
    Forest-floor wine and forest-floor dish; the iron note in the wine echoes the mushroom's mineral edge.

History

Cabassaou was carved out as Tempier's flagship cuvee from a parcel within La Tourtine where Mourvedre vines from the 1940s and 50s sit sheltered from the mistral. The cuvee was launched in 1989 to give the most structured Mourvedre block its own bottling.

  1. 1989: First vintage of Cabassaou as the estate's flagship cuvee
  2. 2009: Cabassaou established as the estate's prestige cuvee in international markets

Facts

Producer
Domaine Tempier · visiting guide
Grapes
Mourvedre (95%), Syrah
Classification
AOC Bandol
Oak
18 to 24 months in large old oak foudres
ABV
14.5%
Price
EUR 120 to 180 at retail
Drinking window
10-35 from vintage
First vintage
1989
Vegan
Yes (no animal-derived fining)

Frequently asked about Domaine Tempier Cabassaou

What does Tempier Cabassaou taste like?

Dark cherry, tar, incense and black olive on the nose; blackberry preserve, graphite, leather and iron on the palate. Full-bodied with high tannin, high acidity and a long savoury finish.

When should I drink Tempier Cabassaou?

Drink between 10 and 35 years from vintage. Cabassaou is the most structured Tempier cuvee and genuinely flowers from year 15 onwards. Decant 2 hours for vintages under 20 years old.

Is Tempier Cabassaou vegan?

Yes. Tempier does not use animal-derived fining agents on its red cuvees, though the estate does not pursue formal vegan certification.

What food pairs with Tempier Cabassaou?

Slow-roast venison or game with iron-rich sauces is the canonical pairing. Aged grilled steak with Bordier butter, truffled risotto and pied bleu mushroom ragout are equally strong matches.

How is Cabassaou different from the other Tempier cuvees?

Cabassaou is almost pure Mourvedre (around 95 percent) from a single wind-sheltered block within the La Tourtine vineyard. Older vines, lower yields and longer aging give it the densest tannin structure in the Tempier line.

Tags

cellar worthy cult wine dry full body high acid high tannin iconic mood bold mood contemplative mourvedre occasion celebration occasion cellar occasion special old vines old world pairs with game pairs with mushroom pairs with red meat pairs with truffles price fine single vineyard still red syrah vegan

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