A classic Bandol red wine made from Mourvèdre and Cinsault, bearing the estate’s signature with its velvety texture and complex aromatic profile. In magnum format, it shows exceptional ageing potential and capacity for development.
Dark fruits such as sour cherry, blackberry, raspberry and cassis meet balsamic spice, tar, liquorice and graphite. Accompanied by juniper, rosemary, dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans – intense yet finely delineated.
Palate
Juicy and cool with a taut, slender body and excellent drinkability. The graphite note provides a linear, cooling structure, whilst the 14.5% ABV is seamlessly integrated. Fine-grained and racy on the finish.
Character
A velvety, complex Mourvèdre without any ostentation – powerful yet elegant, with superb balance and clear ageing potential.
Pairing
Pickled calf’s tongue with lentil and sherry vinaigrette, leg of lamb stew with turnips and tomato, or roasted aubergine with curry yoghurt, pomegranate and almond.
Notes
The estate sits atop blue Triassic marl rich in ancient fossils – geologically comparable to Pétrus. Certified organic since 2019, shaped by centuries-old stone terraces and its proximity to the Mediterranean.
Tasting note
Colour & appearance
Dense purple with violet reflections. Deep and impenetrable in the glass, promising concentration.
Nose
A dark, almost mysterious aromatic profile: tar, liquorice and graphite meet juniper, rosemary and the darkest chocolate. Behind them lie roasted coffee beans and a fruit spectrum ranging from sour cherry through blackberry to cassis. Despite all its density, the bouquet remains cool and finely chiselled.
Palate
Juicy and precise, with a taut line and remarkable freshness. The graphite note lends the wine a cooling, almost linear backbone. It carries its 14.5% abv with astonishing lightness. Sour cherry and dark berries dominate, accompanied by balsamic spice. The tannins are fine, and the drinkability is considerable.
Finish
Long and nuanced. The fruit retains its racy edge, while the spice lingers discreetly in the background. A finish that speaks more of precision than power.
Terroir & origin
Château de Pibarnon sits at the highest point of Bandol, with views stretching to the Mediterranean. The vines grow on restanques – centuries-old stone terraces built by hand – upon unique blue Triassic marl rich in ancient fossils. Geologically, this soil recalls Pétrus. Each terrace level forms its own microclimate; together they create an amphitheatre spanning some 50 hectares.
Grape variety & vinification
Mourvèdre dominates, complemented by Cinsault. Here, Mourvèdre reveals its velvety, complex side – without any aggressive edges. Cellar master Marie Laroze has brought Burgundian precision to the work across 220 individual plots since 2008. The estate has been certified organic since 2019.
Food recommendations
A wine for southern cuisine: pickled calf’s tongue with lentil and sherry vinaigrette finds a worthy counterpart in its spiciness. Lamb leg ragout with turnips and tomato echoes the dark fruit. It also makes an exciting match with roasted aubergine with curry yoghurt, pomegranate and almond.
Special features
The magnum format grants this age-worthy wine additional time. Ten years’ patience will be rewarded, often more. Éric de Saint Victor, at the helm since 2000, treats Mourvèdre as something sensual, never ostentatious – the result is a Bandol that unites power with grace.
