Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rouge 2019

From the importer, Kermit Lynch: Terrebrune’s location less than two miles from the shoreline, in the direct path of marine breezes, makes it a Bandol unlike the others. You’ll know it before even pulling the cork—the alcohol content of 13.5% is low for a sun-kissed mourvèdre - and grenache-based blend, but the terroir here allows the grapes to ripen fully with less sugar accumulation than in more inland areas. For all its gracefulness and light touch, this wine is still packed with nuance, with a sturdy backbone that will allow it to keep drinking wonderfully for decades. It’s sneaky that way, kind of like when you meet Terrebrune proprietor Reynald Delille, a tall, slender, and soft-spoken man, and then learn he is a master of aikido and a highly competitive water skier.