From: Bandol, Provence, France
Varietal: 65% Mourvedre, 35% Cinsault
Tasting Notes: Aromas suggest white flowers and light spice. Fruity, full-bodied and complex; wild strawberries, raspberries, and white pepper.
Pairing: Pair with sushi or other Asian cuisine; Jamón ibérico; or Roquefort cheese. An ideal pair throughout a meal.
Critical Acclaim:
93 points Vinous
Shimmering salmon skin. Powerful cherry, raspberry, pit fruit and lavender aromas, along with blood orange and succulent herb flourishes. Stains the palate with mineral-accented red berry, bitter cherry, white peach, orange pith and floral pastille flavors that show sharp delineation and spicy lift. In a powerful style, but it comes off lithe and precise. Shows powerful thrust on an impressively long, mineral-tinged finish that echoes the peach and blood orange notes. (JR)
Chateau de Pibarnon is an extraordinary terroir seated some 300 meters above the village of Cadière d'Azur in a natural amphitheater. The soil is high in calcair (limestone) and loaded with microfossils making it distinctively unique from its neighbors. The magic of this site provides a balance of warmth in the day and cooling nights. Mourvedre, the primary grape of the region, is said to "need its feet in the water and its head in the sun." Just a few hundred meters from the Mediterranean and with a sunny exposition, Pibarnon's vineyards couldn't be better situated.
In 2000, Eric de Saint-Victor took over the running of the estate after spending a decade under the watchful eye of his father. Since then, the winery has become one of the benchmarks from Bandol alongside other greats like Tempier and Terrebrune. The 2020 rose is composed of 65% Mourvedre and 35% Cinsault. The Cinsault is direct pressed and the Mourvedre is saignee and pressed to create more weight and structure in the wine. Like most Bandol rose, this is both powerful and elegant. The Pibarnon is an ideal rose to drink late in the season or over the next year or two as it continues to evolve.