In the glass
Aroma: wild strawberry, orange peel, white pepper, sea spray
Palate: red currant, grapefruit pith, thyme, saline
Mourvedre-led Bandol rose with serious structure: pale salmon in colour but dense and savoury in the glass. Wild strawberry and sea spray over a thyme-and-pepper spine that ages five years easily.
What it pairs with
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Bouillabaisse
Find bouillabaisse on TableJourney →
Marseille's saffron-laced fish stew meets a rose with enough body to handle rouille and enough acidity to keep oily fish lifted. -
Grilled red mullet
Tempier rose's saline core and herb edge mirror the iodine sweetness of mullet; the wine cuts through olive-oil cookery. -
Aioli garni
The Provencal cod-vegetable-garlic platter wants a rose with backbone; Tempier delivers structure that pure-Grenache roses miss. -
Vitello tonnato
Cold veal with tuna-caper sauce finds a peer in the rose's saline depth and red-currant lift.
History
Lulu Peyraud championed Bandol rose as a serious Mourvedre-based wine when most Provencal rose was thin and forgotten by harvest's end. Tempier's bottling is often cited as the cuvee that proved rose could be cellared.
- 1951 — First Tempier rose bottled by Lucien and Lulu Peyraud
- 1989 — Kermit Lynch begins US distribution, anchoring Tempier as the reference for serious rose
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine Tempier
- Grapes
- Mourvedre (55%), Grenache, Cinsault
- Classification
- AOC Bandol
- Oak
- Fermentation and short aging in stainless steel and a small share in large old foudres
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 45 to 65 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1-8 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1951
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose
What does Tempier Rose taste like?
Wild strawberry, orange peel, white pepper and sea spray on the nose; red currant, grapefruit pith, thyme and saline notes on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long savoury finish.
When should I drink Tempier Rose?
Drink between 1 and 8 years from vintage. Unusual for rose, Tempier's Mourvedre share gives it genuine cellaring potential; bottles often peak between year 3 and year 6.
Is Tempier Rose vegan?
Yes. Tempier does not use animal-derived fining agents on the rose, though the estate does not pursue formal vegan certification.
What food pairs with Tempier Rose?
Bouillabaisse is the canonical pairing; the rose has enough body for rouille and enough acidity for oily fish. Grilled red mullet, aioli garni and vitello tonnato are equally strong matches.
Why is Tempier Rose so highly regarded?
The Mourvedre-led blend gives Tempier serious structure compared to typical Provencal rose. The cuvee proved roses could be cellared and remains a reference for sommelier-driven wine lists worldwide.