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IT From this terrace, one looks out over an amphitheatre of vines stretching to the Mediterranean – the highest point in Bandol. Château de Pibarnon is not a wine estate one forgets.
Éric de Saint Victor has been running the estate since 2000. His Mourvèdre: velvety, complex, age-worthy. The soils of blue Triassic marl are geologically reminiscent of Pétrus. Certified organic since 2019.
More about Château de Pibarnon
An Amphitheatre for the Mourvèdre
The Restanques – centuries-old stone terraces built by hand – form the heart of Pibarnon. Like the tiers of a Greek theatre, they rise up the hillside, each level its own microclimate. What was 16 hectares in 1977 now encompasses around 50 hectares, all on unique Triassic stone with blue marl and primordial fossils.
When Catherine and Henri de Saint Victor purchased the estate, Bandol was barely known. What they found: a wine from the 1970s that reminded them of great Barolos. They converted the Château into a Provençal bastide and installed a gravity-fed cellar that was ahead of its time.
The Mourvèdre and Its Master
Éric de Saint Victor grew up between the barrels. He officially joined in 1989, taking over the reins in 2000. His philosophy: hedonistic, sensual wines without pretension. The Mourvèdre reveals itself here from its charming side – silky rather than aggressive, complex rather than loud.
Five consecutive gold medals at the Concours Général Agricole in Paris (1980-1985), a ranking among the 150 best wines in the world by Slow Food, 95 points from Wine Spectator for the 2005 vintage – the accolades speak for themselves. Cellar master Marie Laroze, on board since 2008, brings Burgundian precision to 220 individual parcels.
From Rosé to 25-Year-Old Marc
Pibarnon's Bandol Rosé is no quick terrace affair: full-bodied, with the liquorice note of Mourvèdre, made for ageing. The Nuances cuvée goes even further – pure Mourvèdre rosé, aged in oak and sandstone.
The Bandol Rouge requires time – ten years, sometimes more. Those who cannot wait reach for the Restanques de Pibarnon: 70% Mourvèdre, 30% Grenache, ready to drink yet capable of ageing.
Provençal Contrasts: Limestone versus Sand
Whilst Pibarnon reigns on its blue marl, Alône works in the Sainte-Baume nature reserve on pure sand. The comparison is worthwhile: Pibarnon's rosés display structure and depth, Alône's version is saltier, lighter, shaped by sandy soil. Two sides of the Provençal coin.