Vieux Marc de Bandol 1998 by Château de Pibarnon: a noble pomace brandy from Provence in the 3000ml double magnum, distilled from the residues of the estate's legendary Mourvèdre grapes and refined through decades of ageing.
581,01 €193,67 € / l
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Deep, warm amber to mahogany with golden reflections – testament to the long cask ageing.
Nose
Intense and multi-layered: dried fruits, walnut, roasted notes and the liquorice of the Mourvèdre, complemented by vanilla, spices and a hint of Provençal herbs.
Palate
Full-bodied and supple with soft alcohol (42.5% vol.), notes of candied fruits, caramel and fine wood, with a long-lasting, warming finish.
Character
A mature, profound digestif of great complexity – the sensual, unpretentious signature of Éric de Saint Victor in distilled form.
Pairing
Neat as a digestif after a meal, alongside dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, or for a robust cigar moment and aged hard cheese.
Notes
A rarity from the house of Pibarnon, which ages its Marc for up to 25 years; the 1998 in the imposing double magnum (3000ml) is a collector's item from the terroir of Bandol's blue Triassic marl soils.
Tasting note
Character
A pomace brandy of dignified calm: distilled from the pomace of Mourvèdre grapes and brought to maturity over many years. The 1998 vintage now has more than two decades under its belt – and you can taste it. Where a young marc still comes across as fiery and angular, this Vieux Marc reveals itself as soft, nutty and spicy, with notes of dried fruits, herbs of Provence and a hint of liquorice, Mourvèdre’s very own signature. The double magnum with 3000 ml is a festive format – spirits for many evenings, many friends, many conversations.
Terroir & Origin
Château de Pibarnon sits enthroned at the highest point of Bandol, in an amphitheatre of centuries-old stone terraces built by hand – the restanques – with views stretching out to the Mediterranean. The soils of blue Triassic marl containing prehistoric fossils are considered a geological rarity. Since Éric de Saint Victor took over the estate in 2000, it has stood for sensual, unpretentious wines; since 2019 it has been organically certified. The marc also carries this origin within it: in a sense, it is the concentrated echo of this terrain.
Grape Variety & Vinification
The foundation is Mourvèdre, the great, late-ripening grape variety of Bandol, which here comes into its own velvety rather than aggressive. The marc is distilled from its pomace – skins, pips and stems left after pressing; the long ageing transforms the raw spirit into a Vieux Marc with depth and a gentle finish. At 42.5% vol. it remains powerful, yet the years have smoothed its edges.
Food Pairings
Classically served as a digestif after a lavish meal – perhaps after leg of lamb with Provençal herbs or Daube de Bœuf. Also delightful alongside mature hard cheese, walnuts and dried figs, or on its own next to a piece of dark chocolate. If you prefer something rustic, grant it a place beside a good espresso – that is how they drink it in the south.
