2024 Domaine La Suffrene Bandol Rose, Provence

The Bandol Rosé AOC appellation is distinguished by its terroir and its limestone and clay slopes facing the Mediterranean, where Mourvèdre reigns supreme, capricious yet noble, framed by Grenache and Cinsault. In the heart of this rugged yet luminous landscape, Domaine la Suffrène cultivates its art with almost silent rigor. The 2024 vintage of Domaine la Suffrène rosé is a shining testament to this. On the nose, the wine opens slowly, with restraint, before releasing a cascade of clean aromas: white peach, grapefruit, lime zest, and a touch of wild fennel. A second, more complex, almost saline nose emerges: floral notes, warm stones, and a hint of garrigue. On the palate, it is the structure that impresses. The attack is direct, followed by a subtle roundness, carried by an acidic backbone that lengthens the finish like a sail in the mistral wind. The balance is perfect, without artifice: freshness, body, and that touch of noble bitterness that makes you want to come back for more. A rosé wine with character! Serve at 12°C. Sumptuous with bouillabaisse Provençal, pork loin with apricots, barbecued salmon, shrimp paella, grilled red mullet fillet, and seafood pasta.

91 points Bacchus Magazine

Domaine La Suffrène Bandol Rosé from Provence is a beautifully structured and savoury style, showcasing the depth and personality that Bandol delivers like nowhere else. The estate is based in the heart of Bandol, where sun soaked terraces overlook the Mediterranean and old, low yielding Mourvèdre vines anchor deep into limestone and clay. Mourvèdre forms the backbone of the blend, bringing spice, structure and that unmistakable Bandol wildness, supported by Grenache and Cinsault for lift and aromatic charm. Hand harvesting, gentle pressing and cool fermentation protect delicacy, while extended ageing on fine lees adds quiet richness.

The aroma offers more than just summer fruit. Wild strawberry, blood orange and pomegranate meet stone fruit hints and a whisper of citrus blossom. Savoury undertones of rosemary, thyme and anise drift in from the surrounding garrigue, along with a subtle mineral edge recalling the chalky soils beneath the vines. With time in the glass, notes of white pepper and dried rose petals add intrigue.

The palate is dry, textural and confidently built. Juicy red fruits glide over a finely chalked frame of tannin from the Mourvèdre, introducing subtle grip and gastronomic character. Flavours of peach skin, redcurrant, grapefruit zest and savoury spice unfold through a long, precise finish with a hint of sea breeze salinity. This is a rosé designed not only for warm days but for the dining table, with the ability to evolve over two to four years into deeper, more complex territory.

Perfect with bouillabaisse, Provençal herbs and roasted vegetables, charcuterie, grilled seafood, tuna niçoise or a long Mediterranean lunch with friends. A rosé of elegance and substance that proudly wears the Bandol name.