Dark fruits such as sour cherry, blackberry and cassis, underpinned with balsamic nuances, tar, graphite, rosemary and dark chocolate.
Palate
Juicy, cool and tight with remarkable drinkability; the cool graphite backbone ideally balances the powerful structure.
Character
Finely tuned, noble and complex – displaying the velvety, charming side of the Mourvèdre grape variety without any aggressiveness.
Pairing
Ragout of leg of lamb with turnip, sour veal tongue with lentil vinaigrette, or roasted aubergine with curry yoghurt and pomegranate.
Notes
Grown in a spectacular amphitheatre of vines on blue Triassic marl; the estate has been certified organic since 2019.
Tasting note
Colour & Appearance
Dense purple with violet highlights.
Nose
An aristocratic interplay of dark fruit and ethereal freshness: sour cherry, blackberry, raspberry and cassis meet balsamic notes. Spicy accents of tar, liquorice, graphite alongside juniper, rosemary, dark chocolate and roasted coffee beans lend the aromatic profile a captivating structure.
Palate
On the palate, the Mourvèdre presents itself juicy, cool and full of finesse. Despite its 14.5% abv, the wine comes across as taut and svelte. A striking graphite note gives it a linear, cooling backbone and ensures a magnificent drinking flow in perfect balance.
Finish
In the finish, the fruit shows itself once again delicately pitched, racy and long-lasting.
Terroir & Origin
The grapes come from the highest point in Bandol. The heart of the estate is formed by the restanques – historic, hand-built stone terraces laid out like an ancient amphitheatre. The soil consists of rare blue Triassic marl with primordial fossils, conferring a taut elegance upon the wine.
Grape Variety & Vinification
A blend dominated by Mourvèdre with complementary Cinsault. Éric de Saint Victor’s estate has been certified organic since 2019. In the gravity-fed cellar built into the hillside, Marie Laroze guarantees precise, parcel-by-parcel vinification.
Food Pairings
Outstanding with soured calf’s tongue with lentil and sherry vinaigrette, hearty leg of lamb ragout with turnip and tomato or vegetarian roasted aubergine with curry yoghurt, pomegranate and almond.
Particularities
Despite the warm coastal climate of Provence, Pibarnon achieves a fascinating balancing act here: A velvety, exceptionally multi-layered red wine of rare freshness that presents the often rustic Mourvèdre grape from its most elegant side.
