Château de Pibarnon Rouge AOC 2020
The Château de Pibarnon Rouge AOC 2020 is a Mourvèdre-driven Bandol from the sea-facing vine amphitheatre of Château de Pibarnon, the highest point in the appellation.
CHF 53.00
Prices in CHF, including customs duty and all import charges, plus shipping CHF 15 (free from 12 bottles or CHF 300) — no further charges on delivery.
Available for Switzerland
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About this wine
Character
A Bandol that holds power and coolness together: 14.5% vol., pronounced acid structure, present tannin and a fresh streak that makes the wine feel light on its feet. Éric de Saint Victor, at the helm of the estate since 2000, seeks sensual wines without ostentation. Here, the Mourvèdre shows its velvety, complex side.
Terroir and origin
The vines stand in a sea-facing amphitheatre, structured by the restanques, centuries-old dry-stone terraces built by hand. For this vin de garde, only the best and oldest vines are used, grown at an average altitude of 250 metres. The subsoil: clay, limestone and Triassic chalk, blue marl containing prehistoric fossils.
Grape variety and winemaking
The cuvée combines 90% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache, with yields of around 30 hl/ha. After roughly three weeks of fermentation, the wine matures plot by plot for 20 months in carefully matched barriques, tonneaux and foudres of varying provenance.
On the palate
The wine carries an ethereal scent of lavender, rose, mint and juniper, over ripe cherry, plum, blackberry, a touch of elderberry, blood orange and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, black cherry, crisp plum, liquorice, cinnamon, tonka bean, violet and pepper. Given enough time and air in the decanter, it is already a charmer, underscored by cool freshness and a beautiful length.
Food pairings
Rib eye medium rare with rosemary butter and baked potatoes, grilled rack of lamb with thyme and rosemary, or, for a vegetarian option, a wild mushroom ragout with Usukuchi Shoyu.
Special features
One of the more modern representatives of the appellation, approachable early yet capable of ageing well: ten years, sometimes more. Cellar master Marie Laroze has worked on the estate's 220 individual plots since 2008; the estate today spans around 50 hectares.
