Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rouge 1.5L MAGNUM 2021

Château de Pibarnon Bandol Rouge is the estate's flagship red, a 90 per cent Mourvèdre and 10 per cent Grenache blend from its highest terraces, here in magnum.

Bandol sits above the Mediterranean east of Marseille and is the one French appellation built squarely on Mourvèdre, a late-ripening variety that needs the heat but repays altitude with freshness. Pibarnon is the classic mountain Bandol, its vines set on restanques, the dry-stone terraces cut into limestone and clay well above the sea. This cuvée takes only the oldest vines and the finest terraces: Bel-Air, La Grande Paguette, La Falaise, Les Pointes Blanches, Le Col and Les Dolmens. The vineyard is farmed organically and biodynamically under chef de culture Éric Schladenhaufen, while cellarmaster Marie Laroze works with wild yeasts, large-format oak, low sulphur and small terroir-based batches. Fermentation was in concrete with about 25 per cent whole bunches, followed by 20 months in a mix of new and used foudres.

Drinkable young for the style, though a decade or more will suit it, and the magnum will slow that further. Serve at 16-18°C with lamb, daube of beef or grilled game birds.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.