Château de Pibarnon 2020

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château de Pibarnon 2020

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep ruby red hue with garnet highlights.

Nose

The nose opens on intense aromas of ripe black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry) alongside notes of garrigue. With aeration, nuances of sweet spices (cinnamon, anise, licorice) emerge, enhanced by floral touches of lavender and rose as well as mineral notes of juniper and crushed limestone.

Palate

On the palate, Château de Pibarnon 2020 captivates with its remarkable balance of freshness, body and silky texture. The tannins are fine and elegant, delicately coating the palate. The persistent, harmonious finish lingers on notes of licorice and anise.

Food and wine pairings

This red Bandol pairs perfectly with roasted red meats, grilled dishes, as well as white meats in sauce. It also goes very well with a rack of lamb with Herbes de Provence, sweetbreads, a veal chop or grilled portobello mushrooms. Aged cheeses such as Comté or sheep’s milk cheeses also make excellent pairings.

Serving and cellaring

Château de Pibarnon 2020 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. This vintage can be enjoyed now but will continue to evolve until around 2035.

An altitude Bandol combining freshness and Provençal elegance

The estate

In 1978, Henri and Catherine de Saint Victor quite literally fell in love with Pibarnon and decided to settle in this limestone-rich, arid Provence. Henri de Saint Victor set aside his job in a laboratory and learned day after day how to manage the vineyard and vinify, while gradually expanding the size of the estate’s vineyards.

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 outstanding 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 enjoys an exceptional location within the Bandol appellation. Rising between 250 and 300 meters above sea level, it represents the highest point in the appellation. Laid out in a natural amphitheater with a southeast exposure, the vines benefit from natural protection from the Mistral. The terroir sits on an ancient Triassic clay-limestone soil, rich in limestone, which gives the wines their tannic finesse and aromatic complexity. The vines, over 35 years old for this cuvée, are cultivated according to organic farming principles, certified since 2019. Yields are deliberately limited to around 30 hectoliters per hectare.

The vintage

The 2020 vintage is defined by its approachability and its unifying character. The climatic conditions made it possible to obtain grapes with fine ripeness while preserving freshness. Harvesting was carried out by hand in small 20-kilogram crates to preserve the integrity of the berries.

Winemaking and aging

Winemaking for Château de Pibarnon 2020 required an extended maceration of around three weeks, followed by a post-fermentation maceration of equivalent length. This patient approach makes it possible to extract fine, elegant tannins. Aging took place for approximately 18 months in foudres and Burgundian barrels, favoring the expression of the terroir rather than a pronounced oaky influence.

Grape varieties

Mourvèdre (90%)
Grenache (10%)