Château de Pibarnon 2019

Tasting characteristics and advice for Château de Pibarnon 2019

Tasting

Color

The color displays a deep, intense purple-red hue, extending all the way to the rim of the glass.

Nose

The bouquet reveals lovely aromatic complexity, with notes of black fruits (blackberry, black cherry, blackcurrant) alongside wild raspberries. As it opens up, aromas of leather, licorice, cocoa and roasted herbs (rosemary, thyme, juniper) emerge, enhanced by touches of garrigue and a subtle chalky minerality.

Palate

The attack is broad and generous, revealing flavors of blackcurrant and jammy red fruits. The tannic structure stands out for its precision and balance, with juicy, silky, elegant tannins that bring firmness without heaviness. The mid-palate offers bright, tangy freshness and a velvety texture, while the finish lingers long on notes of licorice and a saline minerality characteristic of the chalky terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This Château de Pibarnon 2019 is an ideal match for all rare-cooked meats served with their juices and aromatic herbs such as sage and rosemary. It also pairs perfectly with game, braised lamb shoulder, a cumin lamb curry, or blue-veined cheeses.

Serving and cellaring

Château de Pibarnon 2019 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve until around 2035.

A powerful and elegant red Bandol, an expression of the Pibarnon terroir

The estate

In 1978, Henri and Catherine de Saint Victor quite literally fell in love with Pibarnon and decided to settle in this chalky, arid Provence. Henri de Saint Victor set aside his job in a laboratory and learned day by day how to manage the vineyard and oversee vinification, while gradually expanding the size of his vineyard.

Eric de Saint Victor joined his parents at Château de Pibarnon in 1989, before taking over its management in 2000.

Covering 50 hectares, the Château de Pibarnon vineyard produces great Bandol wines that have been awarded on numerous occasions, recognized for their great finesse and significant aging potential.

The vineyard

The Château de Pibarnon vineyard occupies a privileged position within the Bandol appellation, at around 300 meters above sea level. Set in an amphitheater facing the Mediterranean Sea, it benefits from a unique microclimate where cool nights contrast with warm days, promoting slow, optimal grape ripening. The exceptional soils, composed of Triassic limestone, blue marls and chalk, recall the most prestigious terroirs. These clay-limestone restanques, resulting from the Alpine uplift, give the wines their distinctive minerality and remarkably fine tannins.

The vintage

The year 2019 in Bandol was marked by particularly favorable climatic conditions. Abundant rainfall between October and January built up excellent water reserves in the soils. The growing season unfolded under a warm, sunny climate, moderated by altitude and maritime influence, which ensured cool nights. This alternation encouraged gradual, balanced ripening of the grapes, resulting in a harvest of exceptional quality, combining concentration, phenolic ripeness and preserved freshness.

Winemaking and aging

The Château de Pibarnon 2019 harvest was carried out by hand with rigorous selection of the bunches. Part of the crop was vinified with whole clusters, a technique aimed at preserving the wine’s minerality and freshness. Fermentation was carried out with native yeasts, followed by extended maceration for around three weeks. Aging took place over twenty months in new oak foudres from different coopers, allowing the wine to develop structure and complexity while respecting the expression of the fruit and terroir.

Grape variety

Mourvèdre (90%)
Grenache (10%).