The press review

2012 FavouriteChâteau de Pibarnon> Bandol 2010 Red

Regular readers know the admiration we
hold for Château de Pibarnon, whose reds, after a few years in the cellar, could
be mistaken for the greatest wines of the Medoc.

That being said, Eric de Saint Victor's
wines do not entirely denounce their Mediterranean origin. They are in
fact very aromatic and offer characteristic elements of the Provençal landscape.

This 2010 with racy and tasty tannins
is the result of a new direction for the vineyard's management. To further
improve the quality of their first wine, Eric de Saint Victor decided to involve
only the very best plots of land. The result is very positive, because
apart from improving the quality of this first wine, Les Restanques de Pibarnon,
the estate's second wine, which is more immediately accessible and benefits
from the quality of the plots, which were used for the great wine. Here
too the value is excellent.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 Rosé

Produced by one of the jewels of the
appellation, this fleshy and delicious rosé outclasses its competition. Mineral
and spicy, its finish is long, long...

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2012 RoséIt is a must in Bandol. The 50
hectare vineyard has been managed by the de Saint Victor family for 35 years in
La Cadière d'Azur (Var).The 2012 rosé is a blend of Mourvèdre
and Cinsault.

As usual at Pibarnon, nothing is left
to chance. Hand harvested in crates of 20 kg to avoid damaging the
grapes. And, in the end, an elegant wine.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2012 RedThe Saint-Victors have produced Bandols
for almost forty years in this little corner of Paradise at the edge of La Cadière
d'Azur.Eric has been at the head of the 65
hectares (15 being cultivated) since 2000. A mosaic of 250 plots at an average
altitude of 300 metres of white limestone Triassic soils giving an aromatic
finesse and great elegance to the wines, and the famous blue marl Santonian
(like Petrus, Yquem ...)

The estate has been organic for over
ten years. Mourvèdre (combined with 10% Grenache), spends 20 months in
casks, producing an elegant wine discreetly spicy with hints of menthol and
liquorice, with already velvety tannins.

Interview with Eric de Saint VictorEric de Saint Victor oversees Château de Pibarnon in the Bandol appellation of France.Also in this episode, Erin Scala discusses the history of the Bandol area.https://soundcloud.com/leviopenswine/ericdesaintvictorDescription : A guy who used to be a sommelier interviews incredibly famous and knowledgeable wine personalities in his tiny living room. He gets them to talk candidly about their lives and work. Then he releases the recordings every Tuesday and Friday as the I'll Drink to That! Talking Wine with Levi Dalton podcast. Erin Scala also contributes amazing original segments. 

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2006 Red Made from a blend of Mourvèdre (90%)
and Grenache (10%) this wine reflects Pibarnon's unique  land. A deep, almost purple robe, the 2006 vintage is a dense
wine.From the very beginning, it has the right
mix of an edgy texture, uprightness and style, so characteristic of the great years
of Mourvèdre wines that are meant to be matured. Noticeable by ripe fruit
and small berries, the bouquet evokes hints of rosemary or sage, which certifies
the origin of its fragrant wildland. The mouth is rich and powerful with a
finish which is particularly velvety on the palate. To be consumed ideally with game like
pigeon or duck, but also lamb, roasted meats, sweetbreads, scrambled truffles
or fried foie gras.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 Rosé

A milky nose, very fruity, melon,
yellow peach, candied cherry, fairly distinct hints of spice, soft palate,
full, ample and tasty, long, full, beautiful wine.

Our SelectionChâteau de Pibarnon> Bandol 2011 Red - 16,5/20 

Our SelectionChâteau de Pibarnon> Bandol 2012 Red 

Smart Rosé, Sharp Rosé, Post-Summer Rosé Let's sweep the prejudices to one side,
the bitter comments, petty neighbourhood jealousies like "I, unlike the
others, I make proper rosé and without blending, sir!" Put the experts who
bombard you, saying that there is nothing new in your new article, and the
opinion of the "pros", who consider that rosé is not a real wine, or
those who slate this type of wine as an invader on the market, well and truly back
in their places. Let's again insist on asserting that in the wave of rosé
that floods the market this summer, a few big great vineyard rosés could be
slipped in, be it a Sancerre (Vincent Pinard) or a Provence (Roselyne Gavoty),
to name but two recently rediscovered classics in my cellar tours. Vineyard? Yes
my lords, because it is not just the fruit that counts in a rosé.Pinot or Cinsault: this build, this
structure, the undeniable salty or mineral bite, this infinite persistence: all
of this contributes more and more to the rosé being stored in a case of wines
that can be kept, beyond five years, to improve and to be consumed even in
winter.And that's where I wanted to get to. Following
an article in Decanter, I follow the adventures of my friend the Winemaker,
Eric de Saint-Victor, obviously well supported in his vineyard and Pibarnon cellar. Yes,
I know you will do me a great hoopla trick, sing to me with the usual attitude,
"still a large area, an expensive wine, a luxury wine, an expensive wine,
a really famous Château". Poor arguments which lead nowhere. You
will also probably suppose that I am the public relations officer of an
appellation that signalled my debut, that of Bandol, the rosé Queen (by the
way, I am sure they themselves are going to blame me for shoe-boxing them into this
specialty alone!), a theme of one of my papers last winter, that I invite you
to re-read, that showed excellent vintage rosés from Tour du Bon, Pradeaux, La
Bégude, Souviou, Sainte-Anne, L'Olivette, Les Salettes, Tempier... and so
on. Rosé designed to be drunk throughout the year by Eric and his young
team, is not just a simple idea started off the back of a limited edition vintage
range, and is even less of yet another Rosé with chic Brad Pitt or Sacha Lichine
style marketing. It is intended, in my opinion, to be the equal of his
great red or his great white. But as he led me to believe, Éric de St-Victor
would like to primarily create a movement amongst winemakers who would like it,
with the goal of including the rosé as being specifically a rosé from Bandol,
through initiatives that would reposition these wines of this colour. For
this first 2014, a direct result of pure pressed Mourvèdre, unlike its classic
wine that is the product of twice (pressing and bleeding) of the Mourvedre
accompanied by Cinsault at 35%, the wine was vinified and aged 6 months in a Austrian
Stokinger cask and in stoneware from the brand Clayver, manufactured in Italy,
and already used by winemakers as diverse as Benoît Tarlant, Philippe Viret and
Bonny Doon.

So, how is this rosé? I humbly
confess that I have not yet tasted the wine from this vintage Nuances, with
3,500 units produced and sold at around €24 at the cellar door. I plan to
open a bottle by Christmas (Eric's first idea was to design an autumn rosé) or
even after, before going along to taste the 2015 edition in late April 2016
when it's ready. But this does not prevent me from finding the initiative
truly original because it helps to break the imagery that surrounds the rosé
which is a little silly and simplistic: the wine that would be stupidly flavoured
- and God knows that it works in supermarkets - or a range of wine at different
levels, that is reserved for the snobs flouncing past the yachts in St. Tropez
or Cannes, or a bling-bling rosé sold in jeroboams to wealthy Russian and
Chinese people in posh nightclubs around the planet. Now that the rosé is
a huge success, it is time to reposition it and to develop it as a separate
wine able to accompany the finest dishes. But hey, it's been over 20 years
that I have been preaching like this... And I'm not alone. Just read all
the good articles written about rosé in the Club des 5 to realise it.Michel Smith

Pibarnon the ConnoisseurChâteau de Pibarnon> Bandol 2014 RoséComplex and expertly prepared, Pibarnon
rosé, a salmon colour, opens with a powerful citrus nose, red berries, stoned
fruits and finally sweet spices like liquorice.

A great Bandol.

A rosé with characterChâteau de Pibarnon> Bandol 2012 RoséChâteau de Pibarnon is a ‘Bandol Rosé' rosé. The 2012 vintage is listed in the
"Gault & Millau".

With spices and citrus notes, it will go
alongside flavoursome dishes.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséA powerful and structured rosé.

Fleshy, fragrant white fruit and
citrus, adorned with red berries and spicy notes, it has great finesse and ends
with a long, fresh finish.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2012 rougeThe nose reveals beautiful aromas of
cherry stones, dark fruits, tapenade and wildland.

The palate is fruity, tense, spicy, very
long, with a hint of white pepper.

An Excellent VintageChâteau de Pibarnon> Bandol 2014 Rosé With its style and habitual panache, the Château reveals its latest rosé : a harmonious vintage.Managed for 15 years by Eric de Saint Victor, Chateau de Pibarnon is a paradise between sky and sea translating with great subtlety the famous Bandol terroir.Complex and expertly prepared the latest vintage of the Chateau is built like an athlete poxerful ans flexible.Mourvèdre makes up for a substantial part of the blend (65%) and this complemented by cinsault for the body and fruit. The two are blended before fermentation of more than 25 days. Its then aged for 6 months.The wine opens with a powerful aroma of citrus fruits, small red fruits, seed fruits and finally sweet spices like liquorice. The ample and silky flavour is balanced with elegant body ans mineral freshness, evolving with dynamism with a long and slightly spicy aftertaste.This gastronomic rosé is a wonderful aperitif or may accompany such dishes as grilled mullets, an aioli of cod or with meat in sauce. its structure also complements Thai or Chinese cuisine.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2014 Rosé

This wine is a walk along the bay of Bandol
and its creeks. A complex world of arbutus, small red berries, and wild berries. The
palate draws in its mouth-watering minerality with minty notes that embellish
the nose. We love its slight yellow fruitiness followed by freshness at
the end. A guaranteed gastronomic wine, which is best with fish and white meats.

Les Restanques de Pibarnon > Bandol 2011 Red - 15,5/20Slightly saline, sanguine, fine, complex.

It is an elegant Bandol

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséThis is a true rosé wine. A go-to
wine, even, that you can drink this summer, or keep.Made up of 65% Mourvedre and 35%
Cinsault, it offers complex citrus aromas, as expected, but also red fruit and
spices.

A gastronomic wine one tastes at The Grand
Hôtel in Cap-Ferrat,
the Bastide de Saint-Tropez or at La Réserve Ramatuelle.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséCoppery pink robe, complex nose, peach,
melon, vintage rose and iodine.

Rich, voluptuous flavours fill the palate
and extend into spices and a slightly salty peak.

Produced in collaboration with the
magazine Gault & Millau July/August 2014Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2009 RedAn exuberant definition of Mourvèdre from
the 2009 sunny vintage.However, it does not lack any elegance,
taking notes of juniper and laurel from the wild land.

You just have to be patient before you can
enjoy it.

The Great Rosés from ProvenceChâteau de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséAfter the harvest and winemaking undertaken
in optimal conditions, this matured rosé, expresses a great aromatic freshness
and fervour that is perfectly complemented with hints of red fruits, apricot
and grapefruit, which will evolve over time to aromas of liquorice and black olive.

Ideal with a bouillabaisse dish, raw
fish or fresh bottarga on toast.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséA gourmet rosé from a great vineyard in
Bandol.

Ideal with Mediterranean cuisine.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséIts robe is typical of Bandol's
appellation (salmon pink), and its nose starts to sense all the fruity and
spicy aromatic potential which is yet to come.

The lively palate is followed by an
evolution to ripe red fruit, still with this touch of spice that characterises
one of the flagship vineyards of the appellation.

> Château de Pibarnon 2010 Red : 94 pts> Château de Pibarnon 2011 Red : 93 pts> Château de Pibarnon 2012 Rosé : 92 pts

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséWe were looking for the 2012, leaving the
2013 to mature a year in the cellar, to invite this legendary Bandol to the
table.

Red mullet, sea bream, grilled prawns
... we bow before it ...

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséYear after year the Pibarnon rosé
asserts itself as a true gastronomic rosé, offering a palate of various
aromas. We find nice hints of citrus, red fruits, especially blackcurrants,
strawberries and raspberries but also spices. A very fleshy rosé, fruity
and gourmand at once.

The perfect balance between power and
freshness!http://www.guide-des-vins-roses.fr/regions/category/aop-bandol.html

Château de Pibarnon

Eric de Saint Victor is in charge of
this vineyard, created in the 1970s.

At the time, the wines of Pibarnon
emerged in a vineyard landscape in Bandol which was still unassuming. Around
Tempier, Ott, Bunan and Pradeaux, Pibarnon stands out as a dynamic outsider, both
conquering and enterprising. The last tasting was convincing, including a
rosé which has found a noticeably more Bandol-like character in its spicy expression
and a tasty, broad 2010 red!

In 2013, a new page in the history of
Pibarnon turned with the death of Henri de Saint Victor, who, during almost
forty years, was the iconic builder of the vineyard.

Wines > 2012 White, flexible and light, tends towards a simple ans fruity wine. > If the Rosé has sometimes appeared a little technological, the spicy and
vinous style of the Mourvèdre has taken over and the 2012 is long, fragrant and
tasty; it will, without a doubt, even evolve well a year after being
bottled.> As for the red, the second wine, 2010's
Les Restanques de Pibarnon is a pleasant fruity wine, with soft and fluid tannins,
that can be consumed now. The 2010 was closed and slightly reduces when
opened, but leaves room for fine peppery notes when aerated. The tannins are
quite fine and so begin to melt. Conversely, the 2009 is very fluid with a
hollow mid-palate. It is a light Bandol with pleasant hints of mint, but
it has to be consumed quite young! The secondary aromas of spices and
dried leaves of 2008 appear on the nose. Liquorice-tasting on the palate, it seems
attractive. After one year, it has become fuller-bodied.

Château de PibarnonThe news from the vineyard is that it
is grieving the loss of Eric de Saint-Victor's father, who did so much for
Bandol.The Château de Pibarnon is an eighteenth
century country house, located 300 metres above sea level in an amphitheatre facing
the sea. Pibarnon's Mourvèdres grapes have an ideal setting which enables this capricious
grape variety to express its finesse.The rosé is regularly one of the
tastiest Provences, it is the case with the 2012.The red, full-bodied for a young wine,
sometimes harsh, develops a subtle palate of Mediterranean aromatic notes with ageing,
with quality tannins that raise it to the level of a great French wine.  

The White completes the trilogy.> 2012 Rosé - 17/20  

Pretty gastronomy rosé, beautiful on the palate, made in a classic
style, it has depth and a very fresh, complex and balanced finish.    > 2012 White - 16/20 

Fresh, delicious, beautifully built, suave length, it is henceforth a
reference within the appellation. > 2009 Red 2009 - 16/20  

The wine is being matured, it is sappy
and elegant. It needs time to stand out, but the finesse of the tannins is
present.> 2008 Red 2008 - 16/20  

Light structure with gourmet aromas and
grand style.

> Les Restanques de Pibarnon 2011 - 14,5/20  

Powerful juice, concentrated,
energetic, medium length.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2009 Red

It has become clear over the years that
Château de Pibarnon: the leading wine of Bandol, delivers a seductive 2009
vintage, vibrant and explosive, gracefully mingling hints of red berries, bay
leaves and tobacco while emanating classic primary bouquets of dark fruits, blackcurrants,
spices and liquorice.

Conclusion: we step out of our comfort
zone with this wine by daring to serve it alongside Peking-style duck, Kobe
beef or truffle-based dishes.http://www.luxe-magazine.com/0-6436-Un_festival_de_nectars_

2009 Pibarnon Red, in keeping with a 2001 BandolThe 2009 Château de Pibarnon Red honours
the exceptional reputation of vintages from years ending in 9. Fabulous land, a
particularly auspicious time, brilliant wine-making, this is Eric de Saint
Victor's safe formula for great wine. For nearly 10 years, Eric de Saint
Victor has presided over the family estate created by his father 30 years
ago. The vineyard has risen to a level of perfection that exceeds its
appellation. In France and abroad, Pibarnon is synonymous with French excellence.Over the years, Château de Pibarnon has
become the reference in Bandol.Purchased in 1977 by the Saint Victor family,
the area has experienced several changes and has grown with continuous
terracing on this steep and majestic hill, or the acquisition of hidden and
inaccessible plots of land. Particularly plots that are home to a fabulous
treasure: the famous Santonian blue marl just like with Yquem or Petrus!The vineyard is now made up of 50 hectares,
sheltered from the mistral, of terraces nestled within terraces in a vast south-east
facing amphitheatre.Here, Mourvèdre, the appellation's grape
king, finds a wealth of expression and unparalleled finesse.For
nearly 10 years, Eric knew how to reaffirm the international scope that his father
had given to the vineyard by bringing to it a certain "traditional
modernity", a characteristic of the great wines of the world.2009
benefited from both an ideal climate and Eric de Saint Victor's perfectly
controlled wine-making. 2009 is certainly a great vintage in
the South! Winter and spring have brought a much
higher volume of water than recorded during the previous 5 years, ensuring that
the soil is well rehydrated. Summer is truly a Mediterranean one,
that is to say hot but with the accompanying mistral, the grapes maintain good
health. Climate conditions are very similar to those in 2001.

With this vintage, some Mourvèdres grapes
were vinified in whole bunches, not crushed and not stemmed. Daily hand-picking
ensured a smooth and deep extraction of tannins. Ageing takes place in oak
casks for 20 months, including 15% in new barrels.http://spiritueuxmagazine.blogspot.fr/2013/09/pibarnon-rouge-2009-bandol-dans-la.html

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2012 RoséA majority of Mourvèdre along with 35% of
Cinsault for this wine which offers a nose of red fruits and citrus.On the palate, the wine reveals an ample
body, fruity and quite lively, before leaving an impression of freshness as a finale.

An elegant rosé that will accompany a
saffron risotto or a sea urchin dish.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2013 RoséCamped up on Telegraph Hill, this
vintage from Bandol is one of the major references in Provence, a less sunny
vintage than usual, the 2012 is a blend of pressed Cinsault and bled-off Mourvedre.It opens with a nose of red berries,
then pink grapefruit and sweet spicy flavours. With slender elegance, it
seduces with fruitiness and soft texture coating fine acidity, until its long,
fresh finish.

A real gastronomic rosé with a powerful
and harmonious structure.

Château de Pibarnon> Bandol 2012 RoséA gastronomic Rosé, never better than
after a few years in the cellar (today you have to drink the 2010).

Very bold, beautiful fresh finish.