Château Pradeaux - Bandol Rouge 2005

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

As the ninth generation of this estate, founded in 1752, Etienne Portalis is far from resting on the laurels that such a property might offer. It has it all: Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, some twenty hectares of limestone and red clay soils, a mild and temperate microclimate, extensive work undertaken on the vines and in the cellar, and—as with the very best—aged oak barrels that lend a silky texture to the wines and refine them for very long aging.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

The château, owned by the Portalis family since 1752, is currently managed by Cyrille, who carries on the family tradition. The next generation is taking over, with Edouard—who already works alongside his father—and Etienne. The advanced age of the vines (over 35 years old, on average) and the low yields produce wines that, even if they require time to develop, are often on par with the greatest. Unforgiving and harsh in their youth—the grapes are not destemmed—they often become splendid and of great character after 15 or 20 years of aging. A second wine, Le Lys, is now offered by the estate.

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

About the estate:

Château Pradeaux, in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer, is a landmark of the appellation. The Portalis family has owned the estate since 1752. A worthy heir to the estate, Étienne has been steering the wines toward greater finesse and tension since his arrival in 2010, championing a traditional and timeless vision of Bandol reds. Discerning wine lovers undoubtedly have extraordinary memories of the character and aging potential of these wines. Although they are difficult to define in their youth, their potential lies dormant. If one takes the risk of comparing them to the new generation of Bandols, produced by the Tempier or La Bégude estates, Pradeaux’s wines may be outshone by these more modern, colorful vintages, which are easier to enjoy in their youth. Yet, far from any trend toward flattery, Pradeaux remains as it has always been: a very classic red, seeking to unfold over time, enhancing its power and uniqueness through whole-cluster vinification (extremely rare in Bandol) and very long aging (up to 48 months) in old casks ranging from 40 to 80 years old! Keep them in the cellar for at least ten years, and they will always surprise you. The density, character, and depth of the latest vintages of the reds provide us with an incomparable emotional experience. The estate has been certified organic since 2023.