“Having understood perfectly the soul of this exceptional terroir, Henri de Saint-Victor completely remade Chateau de Pibarnon and in doing so created a grand classic in Bandol, with a profundity and balance without equal in Provence….” Bettane and Desseauve, Classification of the Best Wines of France, 2003
“The rose is unfailingly one of the most savory in Provence. The red is robust when young but develops a range of subtle, typically Mediterranean aromas, together with a tannic quality that places it amongst the greatest of all the French wines.” Bettane and Desseauve’s Guide to the Greatest Wine of France 2011
Below is a picture of Château de Pibarnon’s vineyard. It’s called the Théatre d'Epidaure but you could also call it Mourvèdre’s Promised Land. A natural amphitheatre, it sits atop La Colline du Télégraphe at a height of 300m, staring directly out at the sparkling Mediterranean bay of La Ciotat. This is one of the few terroirs that can ripen and sculpt the surly Mourvèdre into the kind of fine, supple and fragrant wine that Pibarnon is famous for. While the photograph doesn’t really do the natural beauty of the Pibarnon vineyard justice, there is plenty of beauty to be found in the glass of any of the wines below. Open a bottle and you are as good as in Provence. These wines simply couldn’t come from anywhere else. You are in Mourvèdre country. Welcome to Bandol!
We’re not entirely sure who coined the phrase ‘The Petrus of Bandol’, but it does give you an idea of the high reputation this Estate holds amongst its peers. The brutish, muscular and tannic norm of many Bandols gives way here to a perfumed, refined and altogether more elegant manifestation. In this storied region, Pibarnon rouge has something of a cult following and counts the leading French wine critics amongst its more passionate admirers. It’s not easy to pinpoint exactly what makes this particular Bandol, made by Eric de Saint Victor, so distinctive. There are many factors....
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As mentioned in our offer, given the miniscule production and strong local demand, we see very little Bandol Blanc in Australia. We think this is one of France's most fascinating wines. Made from... read more
The rouge at Pibarnon is a style of Bandol all its own. Although this is supremely elegant and seamless by Bandol's standards, there is still plenty of stuffing and density for long term aging.... read more
