Château de Pibarnon 2009

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

This wine is still developing; it is vibrant and elegant. It needs time to come into its own, but its refined tannins already stand out.

About the estate:

The Château de Pibarnon is an 18th-century country house, situated at an altitude of 300 meters 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 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 work, the estate now comprises 50 hectares of vineyards terraced in restanques at an altitude of 300 meters, forming a south-east-facing cirque. An essential reference within the Bandol appellation.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

A great, truly great Pibarnon—combining its usual refined texture with an incredibly smooth, velvety roundness. It’s flavorful, fruity, soft, and delicious. The sun has ripened the grapes, giving them a jam-like quality that’s enlivened by a hint of mint.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the wine:

The 2009 is very smooth, with a slight dip in the mid-palate. It’s a light Bandol with pleasant minty notes, but it should be enjoyed fairly young!

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 fine 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 reds with a silky, concentrated character, featuring a highly refined balance between oak and fruit expression.