Château de Pibarnon - Bandol 2017

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The Château de Pibarnon is an 18th-century country house, situated 300 meters above sea level in a vast amphitheater facing the sea, on a hill where the old optical telegraph line connecting Toulon to Paris once stood. From here, one overlooks 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 its own right, as the soil is highly distinctive, composed of a high proportion of Triassic limestone—a geological feature complemented by the presence of blue marl found in the terroirs of Petrus and Château d’Yquem. The 45-hectare estate, now skillfully managed by Éric de Saint-Victor, primarily produces red wines made from the Mourvèdre grape variety.

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

A new Favorite Pibarnon: this Bandol, made from 90% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache, aged for 18 to 20 months in oak barrels. A beautiful ruby color, a complex and intense nose—vegetal, oaky, fruity (black fruits, bitter orange), and spicy (coriander, pepper) : this makes for a most inviting introduction. What follows does not disappoint: on the palate, typical of its terroir, it delights with its volume, density, and tannins that are distinctly present yet remarkably silky, along with a long finish with subtle cocoa notes. A truly fine representative of the appellation, with a character as assertive as it should be.

About the estate:

The de Saint-Victor family (now Éric) first settled on these Bandol vineyards in 1978, cultivating them using non-certified organic methods. Following extensive expansion, the estate now comprises 50 hectares of vineyards terraced in restanques at an altitude of 300 meters, forming a south-east-facing cirque. A must-try wine from the Bandol appellation.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About wine:

This Bandol shows great promise, with a dense, velvety texture and perfectly defined character that suggests it will age well for over twenty years. Despite being a dry vintage, this 2017 manages to retain remarkable harmony and freshness.

About the estate:

Henri de Saint-Victor founded Château de Pibarnon in 1978 and, within a few decades, established it as one of Bandol’s most iconic estates (alongside Tempier and Pradeaux). His son Éric has been at the helm of the estate since 2000 and cultivates 50 hectares of vineyards (45 hectares of red and 5 hectares of white) on the limestone terroirs of La Cadière-d’Azur. He produces two reds: the Château (90% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache), built for aging, and Les Restanques, which is more approachable when young, made from young vines with only 70% Mourvèdre and 30% Grenache. Despite some inconsistencies during the 2000s, the reds—which serve as excellent ambassadors for Bandol wines and their aging potential—have returned to their best form since 2010. It must be said that by selecting plots at the heart of his terroir, Eric de Saint-Victor has, in recent vintages, restored body and fullness to the reds, giving them a silky, concentrated character with a highly refined balance between oak and fruit expression.