Château de Pibarnon - Bandol 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

Château de Pibarnon is an 18th-century bastide set 300 meters above sea level in a vast amphitheater facing the sea, on a hill where the old optical telegraph linking Toulon to Paris once stood. From here, you can overlook the entire vineyard and even the villages of La Cadière and Le Castellet. It was this extraordinary view that Henri and Catherine de Saint-Victor fell in love with nearly 30 years ago. The terroir, absolutely unique, could constitute an appellation in itself, as the soil is very special, composed of a high proportion of limestone from the Trias, a geological peculiarity to which is added the presence of blue marl found in the terroirs of Petrus and Château d'Yquem. The 45-hectare estate, today managed with talent by Éric de Saint-Victor, produces mainly red wines from the Mourvèdre grape variety.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A new Favorite for Pibarnon and this Bandol composed of 90% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache, aged 18 to 20 months in barrel. A beautiful ruby-red color, a complex, intense nose of vegetal, woody, fruity (black fruit, bitter orange) and spicy (coriander, pepper) aromas: a most engaging introduction. What follows does not disappoint: the palate, typical of its terroir, delights with its volume, density, well-presented but remarkably silky tannins, and long, finely cocoaed finish. A very fine representative of the appellation, with an assertive character as it should be.

About the domain :

In 1978, the de Saint-Victor family (now Éric) acquired a foothold on this Bandolais land, which they farm using uncertified organic methods. After numerous expansions, the estate now boasts 50 hectares of vines planted on terraces at an altitude of 300 m, forming a south-east-facing cirque. An essential reference in the Bandol appellation.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

This very Bandol is shining brightly, with a dense, velvety, perfectly defined body that looks set to keep for more than twenty years. In this dry vintage, this 2017 manages to retain remarkable harmony and freshness.

About the domain :

Henri de Saint-Victor founded Château de Pibarnon in 1978, making it one of Bandol's most emblematic estates in just a few decades (along with Tempier and Pradeaux). His son Éric has been at the helm of the estate since 2000, cultivating 50 ha of vines (45 ha of reds and 5 ha of whites) on the limestone terroirs of La Cadière-d'Azur. He produces two reds: Le Château (90% Mouvèdre and 10% Grenache), designed for ageing, and Les Restanques, a younger wine, made from young vines with only 70% Mouvèdre and 30% Grenache. Despite a few irregularities during the 2000s, the reds, a good spokesperson for Bandol wines and their ageing potential, have been back to their best since 2010. In recent vintages, Eric de Saint-Victor's selection of parcels at the heart of his terroir has given flesh and breadth to reds with a silky, concentrated character and a highly civilized balance between wood and fruit expression.