Domaine Tempier is the benchmark estate of Bandol, in coastal Provence, brought to prominence by Lucien and Lucie ('Lulu') Peyraud from the mid-twentieth century; the cuvee 'Lulu & Lucien' honours them. Bandol is Mourvedre country, a late-ripening variety that thrives on the appellation's poor limestone and clay-marl soils and sun-drenched, wind-swept restanques above the Mediterranean. Tempier farms organically across a mosaic of parcels of varying age and aspect. 'Lulu & Lucien' is built around younger and supplementary parcels, giving an earlier-drinking style than the estate's single-vineyard bottlings. The 2023 growing season in Bandol was warm, producing ripe, concentrated Mourvedre with the firm tannin the variety is known for.

Grapes are hand-harvested and, in the estate tradition, largely destemmed before fermentation in the cellar's concrete vats using indigenous yeasts. Maceration runs for several weeks to draw out Mourvedre's colour, structure and savoury character, with the blend rounded out by Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan from the estate's holdings. Malolactic fermentation completes in vat, after which the wine is matured in large old oak foudres, which allow slow, oxidative ageing without imparting overt oak flavour, before bottling. The result is a Bandol that is approachable earlier than the flagship cuvees yet retains genuine ageing capacity. Exact blend proportions and elevage length for the 2023 vintage should be confirmed with the estate.