While most estates in Bandol have generational stories, Marie Bérénice is a recent one. Founded in 2012 by Damien Roux (and named after his daughter), the organically farmed vineyards lie in the limestone heart of Bandol between La Cadière and Le Castellet. If you’re used to drinking the pale pink styles of Côtes de Provence, then you’re used to drinking Grenache-forward rosés. Bandol, unlike Côtes de Provence, contains a high percentage of Mourvèdre, which gives greater color, structure, and intensity to the final wines. Widely considered the benchmark for age-worthy rosé, Bandol is more than a summer sipper and benefits from a few years in the bottle, like this 2020. The palate is persistent with crushed dark red and purple berries, Provençal herbs, and grilled earth. Tannin is a good thing, and the tannins, here, complement the juiciness of the fruit and extend the finish into a long one. Rosé, it’s not just a summer thing. It’s a winter thing, too, especially if you’re shucking stone crabs with a glass of Bandol. ~Allegra A