Château de Pibarnon - Les Restanques de Pibarnon 2011

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Slightly briny, with a hint of blood, delicate, and complex—this is an elegant Bandol.

About the estate:

The Château de Pibarnon is an 18th-century bastide, situated at an elevation 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 can overlook 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, which is absolutely unique, could constitute an appellation all on its own, as the soil is highly distinctive, composed of a high proportion of Triassic limestone—a geological feature complemented by the presence of blue marl, which is also 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 Saint-Victor family (now Éric) first settled on these Bandol vineyards in 1978, where they cultivated the land using non-certified organic methods. After extensive expansion work, the estate now comprises 50 hectares of vineyards terraced in restanques at an elevation of 300 meters, forming a southeast-facing cirque. An essential reference within the Bandol appellation.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the wine:

Flesh, fruit, substance—the flavors seem to be steeped in brandy, the water of happiness—but for now, the second wine is more reserved than its big brother; change is on the horizon.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2011 Bandol Les Restanques de Pibarnon demonstrates just how elegant and pure wines from this region can be. Blackberry, spices, and notes of crushed flowers are all present in this medium-bodied, refined, and superbly balanced 2011, with fine tannins and a long finish. It will continue to impress for the next 7 to 10 years.

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

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 can be enjoyed younger, 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 his reds, which now exhibit a silky, concentrated character with a highly refined balance between oak and fruit expression.