Domaine Tempier
Bandol Cuvée Cabassaou
Bandol
2023
Vintage
Varietal
Shiraz/Syrah
Where it is, October 2026
Too Young: holding until the full drinking arc opens in 2028.
The cellar arc opens in 2028, reaches a first peak from 2030 through 2036, and is marked for decline after 2044. Young bottles should show dense fruit and firm texture, while longer cellaring should bring more savory detail.
The ‘23 Bandol Cuvée Cabassaou.
Bandol Cuvée Cabassaou 2023 is a dense, structured red from Domaine Tempier with blackberry, garrigue, iodine, and firm tannin.
Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) drinking timeline
Storage and bottle condition can shift the experience.
The peak window sits inside the broader full drinking arc.
Tasting note
Bandol Cuvée Cabassaou 2023 presents as a dense, darkly colored red with aromas of crushed blackberry, black plum, iodine, garrigue, dried lavender, and a meaty savory note. The palate is powerful and concentrated, with ripe dark fruit carried by bright freshness and a firm, monolithic tannic frame. Its long finish keeps the wine from feeling heavy, while savory Mediterranean accents emerge alongside the fruit. The 2023 season brought warmth that concentrated the fruit while freshness remained intact. This is a youthful bottle that benefits from patience, and its structure should gradually soften as the fruit becomes more integrated. With air, the wine can move from dark fruit and iodine toward dried herbs, earth, and a broader savory finish. The profile is best understood through its fruit, freshness, tannin, and Mediterranean character.
The 2023 vintage
2023 is presented here as a warm Bandol season that concentrated dark fruit while retaining freshness. The cellar arc opens in 2028, peaks from 2030 through 2036, and moves toward decline after 2044. Bottle condition and storage can shift the experience.
About Domaine Tempier
Domaine Tempier is a Bandol estate whose wines are associated with the region's powerful, savory reds and the expressive character of Mediterranean varieties. In this bottling, the estate identity is carried by Cabassaou, a named cuvée with a concentrated, cellar-worthy profile. The available record supports a description centered on dark fruit, garrigue, iodine, and firm structure. The producer style is best approached through the wine's combination of intensity, freshness, and savory detail.
From the cellar: pair with
Braised wild boar with black olives and polenta
The savory, slow-cooked meat and olive richness meet the wine's dark fruit, garrigue, and firm tannin.
Rack of lamb with roasted eggplant and tapenade
Lamb echoes the wine's depth, while eggplant and tapenade bring out its earthy Mediterranean tones.
Slow-cooked daube Provençale
The dish's herbs, braised texture, and concentrated sauce match the wine's savory character and structured finish.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- Serve slightly below room temperature, around 60-65F (16-18C), and adjust after tasting.
- Decanting
- A young bottle can benefit from measured air. Start with a short decant, taste, and extend only if the wine remains closed or tannic.
- Cellar Storage
- Store in a dark, stable cellar away from temperature swings, with the bottle resting on its side.
More Syrah
Frequently Asked
When should I drink Bandol Cuvée Cabassaou 2023?
The canonical CAI full drinking arc is 2028-2044. Within that arc, the peak window is 2030-2036. The full arc is the broader period the wine may drink well; the peak window is when it is most likely to show its best balance. Storage, fill level, cork condition, and preference can shift the decision. Taste before adding more air or holding the rest.
What flavors should I expect?
Expect blackberry, dark plum, iodine, garrigue, dried lavender, and a savory, meaty note, with firm tannin and a long finish.
Should I decant it?
A young bottle can benefit from measured air. Start with a short decant, taste, and extend only if the wine remains closed or tannic.
How should I serve it?
Serve slightly below room temperature in a large red-wine glass, then adjust after tasting.