2017 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rouge 750 ml

There is nothing like a great bottle of Bandol.

The 2017 Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rouge brings quality and character far beyond what you’d get from Napa, Bordeaux, or Bolgheri at this price—but we hesitate to bring up other regions, simply because Bandol’s singular style of red wine can’t be found anywhere else on Earth. 

This superb bottle shows how a grape—in this case, 85% ink-black Mourvèdre—can combine with a unique terroir to create something magical. That’s why it’s a fixture at some of the world’s greatest restaurants: Thomas Keller’s Per Se has it on the list, and it was Mélisse sommelier Matthew Luczy’s first choice to include in our Somm of the Year set.

Domaine de Terrebrune was founded in 1963 in the commune of Ollioules by Paris-trained sommelier Georges Delille, who spent ten years renovating the property, terracing hillsides, and replanting vineyards. The estate is now run by his son Reynald, who farms the distinctive brown earth under a 100% organic regimen. 

The Terrebrune property looks out over the azure Mediterranean, whose marine breezes are a blessing in the region’s oven-hot summers. Even more advantageous are the crumbly soils, a loose mixture of brown clay and fissured limestone that permits vine roots to stretch out in search of water, relieving hydric stress. Reynald eschews all herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, building on his father’s original sweat equity with rigorous farming practices that push vines to their limits. 

The result is one of the richest and most rewarding wines in the world—one that every red wine lover should have in their cellar.