Chateau Canadel Bandol Rouge 2014

Grape variety : 70% Mourvèdre,  20% Cinsault, 6% Grenache, 4% Syrah

Limestone and clay soils. Vineyard cultivated in terraces (locally called “restanques”) on the steep slopes of a natural cirque, facing south. Average age of vines:  37 years

Vinification: The grapes are hand-harvested and sorted in the vineyard. They are then sorted again at the cellar before being de-stemmed. The fermentation lasts 20 days in concrete tanks, with smooth pumping over each day. The wines are aged 18 months in oak tanks of 30 to 80 hl.

Vintage :  2014  began with a very wet winter.    Spring was quite dry and conditions were good and healthy for the growing vines.  The summer was dry although quite cool which led us to believe that harvesting would be late. However welcome rains at the end of August and a rise in temperature in September helped accelerate the maturity of the grapes. The reds harvesting began on September 12th and finished on September 26th.

Taste : The nose is very aromatic and elegant, revealing flavors of red fruits, spices, liquorice, blond tobacco. We find these flavors in the mouth, with smooth and fruity tannins. The first sip is juicy, and then the wine reveals unexpected depths and lengths with subtle spicy and minty notes.

Serve : Great elegant Bandol wine, with an excellent ageing potential. Serve at 17°.

Alcohol: 14°

Rated : 92 Points by Gary Walsh _ Winefront
“Raspberry and black fruits, dusting of pepper and spice, thyme and singed rosemary. Medium bodied, spicy and meaty, fresh and evenly weighted, with firm dusty tannin, and a nice long finish flecked with bitter orange. Excellent. Wild and engaging.”