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<\/a>Plenty of wine lovers make the pilgrimage to Burgundy, Bordeaux or Piedmont for Barolo, at least once in their lives. Yet too many are missing a vinous destination that is truly like none other: Bandol<\/strong>.<\/p>\nThe bold Mourv\u00e8dre grape is to Bandol as suave Pinot Noir is to Burgundy \u2013 that is, capable of feats of vinous brilliance and bottles that can last literally a lifetime. And crucially, our friends at Ch\u00e2teau de Pibarnon<\/strong> craft the finest, most expressive Mourv\u00e8dre-based wines in the world.<\/p>\n Indeed, when we talk of world-class wines, refined bottles that capture the essence of a place like a mirror, Pibarnon Bandol is at the very top of that list. Yet bizarrely, these wines have yet to catch on seriously with the wider world \u2013 even though a great bottle of Bandol Rouge remains a thrilling value for its quality and ageworthyness.<\/p>\n It\u2019s why serious collectors (who are both savvy and keen on value) go big in Bandol. Like the wines of Barolo, Bandol at its best is eternal, growing ever more elegant and supple with time. And like fine Burgundy, the depth and complexity of the finest Bandol wines \u2013 whether red, white or even ros\u00e9 — is a singular, captivating experience.<\/p>\n It doesn\u2019t hurt that the Bandol appellation is smack-dab in the heart of southern France, either. And Pibarnon finds itself at the highest point in this small appellation, an oasis of cool winds and azure skies. Imagine, if you will, standing on this hilltop with the Mediterranean Sea at your back, the warm, ruddy earth under your feet and the breeze redolent of wild herbs, rosemary and thyme. Ahead of you is a sunny, miles-wide amphitheater of ancient vines, deeply green and healthy, rustling in the soft wind.<\/p>\n The sky is a stunning, cloudless blue, a shade lighter than the deeper azure of the sea behind you; indeed, this perch enjoys some 300 days of sunshine each year. You may need to pinch yourself. How can one place be so pristine, so perfectly suited to grape growing, so breathtakingly sublime?<\/p>\n We consider ourselves very lucky to have found Pibarnon early on, and equally thrilled to be witness to winemaker Eric de Saint-Victor\u2019s meteoric rise (there simply isn\u2019t a nicer guy in the world of wine). It was Eric\u2019s parents who, in the late 1970s, discovered this property at a time when Bandol was barely a blip on most vinous radars \u2013 yet they toiled for decades to make Pibarnon the gem that it is today.<\/p>\n Pibarnon wines then were certainly good. Yet the bottles that Eric makes today are some of the best we\u2019ve ever had \u2013 with a commitment to organic farming (the estate was certified in 2019) and a series of stunning vintages in which Mourv\u00e8dre has truly shined, the time to discover Pibarnon is now.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”89%” width_tablet=”80%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”89%” max_width_tablet=”80%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”5%|5%|5%|5%” border_width_all=”1px” border_color_all=”#d46d32″ use_border_color=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n FARMING & WINEMAKING<\/strong><\/p>\n Pibarnon sits at the highest point in the Bandol appellation (more than 900 feet above sea level) and occupies its own micro-climate. The influence of the Mediterranean to the south as well as the estate\u2019s altitude keeps the southern temperatures moderate, allowing Mourv\u00e8dre the long growing season it requires to reach optimal ripeness.<\/p>\n The estate\u2019s unique and rare soils, called Trias, are mineral-rich and retain water even in the driest years; sub-soils are a blue clay (found also at Ch\u00e2teau d’Yquem and Petrus) which contribute to the wines’ refined aromas and smooth texture.<\/p>\n The estate vineyards grow in a natural amphitheater, which not only protects vines from strong winds but also provides a dramatic backdrop for one of Bandol’s most legendary estates.<\/p>\n Vines are cared for according to organic principles; as of the 2019 vintage, the estate is officially certified. Harvest is always by hand, considering the steep, terraced terrain. Wines are fermented on indigenous yeasts and aged exclusively in a combination of new and older French oak casks and barrels.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”WHITE WINES” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|on|||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16″ background_color=”#d46d32″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”2%|5%|2%|5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]WHITE WINES The pinnacle of Proven\u00e7al whites. Soft and inviting, with flavors of apricots and white peach\u00a0and\u00a0a refreshing almond finish.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_text admin_label=”ROS\u00c9 WINES” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|on|||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16″ background_color=”#d46d32″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”2%|5%|2%|5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]ROS\u00c9 WINES A full-bodied, blush wine that captures the licorice and berry intensity of Mourv\u00e8dre with a touch of silk from Cinsault. When you hear people talk of \u201cserious\u201d ros\u00e9, they\u2019re talking about this wine — a full-bodied wine that reaches its peak with a year or two in bottle. Yes, great ros\u00e9 can age!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_text admin_label=”RED WINES” _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”|on|||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16″ background_color=”#d46d32″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”2%|5%|2%|5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]RED WINES A selection of younger vines, organically raised on the same terroir as the estate\u2019s Bandol Rouge. \u201cRestanques\u201d are the terraces where Mourv\u00e8dre vines grow in the estate\u2019s natural amphitheater.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_toggle title=”Bandol Rouge” admin_label=”Bandol Rouge (Mourv\u00e8dre)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n A complex, savory and rustic wine when young, Bandol with age mellows and evolves into something resembling finely woven silk.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_text admin_label=”Distillates” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”|on|||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”16″ background_color=”#d46d32″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”dark” custom_padding=”2%|5%|2%|5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n DISTILLATES<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Vieux Marc de Bandol” admin_label=”Vieux Marc” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Winemaker Eric de Saint-Victor\u2019s parents, when they purchased Pibarnon so many decades ago, wanted to showcase the power of Mourv\u00e8dre not just in wine, but also in eau de vie. Thus began the family\u2019s micro-production of a long-aged distillate crafted from the pomace of their Bandol Rouge wines, a rare and cherished Vieux Marc de Bandol. The \u201cangel\u2019s share\u201d of this eau de vie is generous \u2013 the distillate is aged for 25 years in oak barrels in Pibarnon\u2019s underground cellars until it reaches bottle strength, around 43% ABV. When it emerges from its slumber, this pale amber-colored and intensely aromatic potion is rich in peppery nuance, warm tobacco, and the earthy herbal garrigue that grows wild over so much of France\u2019s southern coast.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Bandol Blanc” admin_label=”Bandol Blanc (Bourboulenc, Clairette)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\n
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\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Bandol Ros\u00e9” admin_label=”Bandol Ros\u00e9 (Mourv\u00e8dre, Cinsault)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\n
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\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Bandol Rouge \u2018Les Restanques de Pibarnon\u2019 ” admin_label=”\u2018Les Restanques de Pibarnon\u2019 Bandol Rouge (Mourv\u00e8dre, Grenache)” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” border_color=”#ffffff” border_style=”solid” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n\n
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