From: Provence, France
Blend: 80% Mourvèdre, 20% Cinsault
Critical Acclaim: Wine Spectator
A bold and formidable style that leans to the savory side, showing a strapping mix of grilled peach flavors and a lashing of grilled herbs. A serious rosé, with great texture and serious depth. Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Grenache. Drink now through 2028. — Kristen Bieler
Wine Advocate 93 points
Cyrille Portalis has crafted an outstanding 2022 Bandol Rose. With a harmonious bouquet and aromas of red berries, spices, iodine, jasmine, wild strawberry and menthol, it’s round and supple, medium to full-bodied, layered and textured, with mineral acidity and an ethereal yet lively finish. This blend of 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Cinsault tastes like the essence of Bandol rosé. Drinking 2023 - 2028 — Yohan Castaing
Taste: In the glass, the wine shimmers with a luscious hint of blood orange, ripe wild strawberries, and grilled peaches, meeting gorgeous spice notes of cinnamon and galangal. On the palate, red berries hold court, accentuated by undercurrents of blood orange and orange zest, all riding a wave of enchanting minerality and charm.
Pairing: Regarding food pairing, the rich and full-bodied Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé is versatile. It enhances the fresh flavors of grilled seafood, and its lively acidity complements decadent dishes such as lamb tagine, a myriad of curries (see recipe below), and dishes that include Mediterranean spices and vegetables (slow-roasted or grilled). Consider pairing it with a classic Niçoise salad or Socca for a lighter meal.
Mattar Paneer (Peas and Paneer in Spiced Tomato Gravy)
By Zainab Shah
About. The revered realm of rosé has a prodigious champion in the 2022 Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé. Nestled between Toulon and Marseilles in the picturesque town of St. Cyr Sur Mer, Château Pradeaux is a historic wine estate that continues to uphold its esteemed heritage under the astute stewardship of Cyrille Portalis. The Château, an enduring standard bearer for the Bandol appellation, offers a distinctive rosé that stands out amongst many producers.
The 2022 Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé, a masterful blend of 80% Mourvèdre and 20% Cinsault, is a serious wine that commands respect. This bottle is not a frivolous rosé to be hastily sipped and forgotten. It's a vibrant, powerfully structured libation, displaying tart berry flavors coupled with the fragrant allure of lavender and a tickle of white pepper. This wine is so irresistibly delicious that it's hard not to drink it now. Still, your patience will be rewarded as it unravels into mature complexity over the coming years.
Fermented spontaneously and aged on its fine lees in a combination of steel and cement, this Bandol Rosé reflects the immense character of the ancient vines it originates from—some reaching the ripe age of 80 years. The result is a fine, structured wine with a spice-laden fruit depth that few rosés can boast.
Exhibiting a balance of 13-14% alcohol by volume, low residual sugar, and a total acidity of 3.4 g/l, this rosé guarantees a unique, age-worthy experience for discerning oenophiles. The resulting palate is robust, rich, and complex. This gastronomic rosé offers more than a simple, easy-drinking experience. It invites you to explore its profound depth and savor the tasting journey rather than rush through it.
As a wine critic from Wine Advocate notes, this rosé is "round and supple, medium to full-bodied, layered and textured, with mineral acidity and an ethereal yet lively finish." Kristen Bieler from Wine Spectator also commends its "bold and formidable style" with "great texture and serious depth.”
