Domaine La Bastide Blanche - Bandol rouge 2022

The estate is led by Michel Bronzo, supported by Stéphane Bourret, the technical director and a discerning wine taster. In just a few years, the estate has closed in on the appellation’s long-standing leaders. The consistency and intensity of its wines are the result of dedicated efforts—from the vineyard to the cellar—combined with a deep understanding of the terroir. La Bastide Blanche is situated on red clay soils, where the Fontanéou cuvée is produced, and on stony clay soils for the Estagnol cuvée. The wines have a composed, earthy character that is deeply rooted.

A renowned estate, founded in 1972 by Baptistin Bronzo and his son Michel with 10 hectares of vineyards. Expanded and completely restructured, the vineyard now covers 48 hectares, laid out in terraces at the foot of Le Castellet and cultivated using biodynamic methods. The Bronzo family has also taken on a lease for the Châteaux des Baumelles (10 hectares in Saint-Cyr) and Château du Castillon (8 hectares in Le Castellet).

The 2022 La Bastide Blanche Rouge is still encased in tannins as solid as rock

This estate, purchased in 1973 by Louis and Michel Bronzo, produces serious wines in all three colors, combining power and finesse. The 47-hectare vineyard, which is fragmented and primarily laid out in terraces, reflects the geological diversity of the Bandol terroir. Stéphane Bourret, who oversees winemaking, produces robust reds—more earthy than maritime—as exemplified by the two flagship wines: Fontanéou (4,000 bottles per year), born of red clay soils and facing due east in La Cadière-d’Azur, is a blend of Mourvèdre and Grenache with distinct character; Estagnol (5,000 bottles per year), grown on clay-limestone soils intermixed with gravelly areas, offers a very ripe and opulent texture. Made primarily from Clairette and Ugni Blanc, the white wine is undoubtedly the most consistent and harmonious in the appellation. The older vintages available for sale allow you to appreciate the undeniable potential of the estate’s wines.