Château de Pibarnon 2011

Château de Pibarnon 2011

- Score : 93/100 James Suckling

- Anticipated aging: now to 2026

- Tasted by Jeb Dunnuck in 2016: "Like the Restanque de Pibarnon, the 2011 Bandol Rouge shows the sunniest nature of the vintage with its sexy, bright personality. Elegant with slightly finer tannins, it offers beautiful notes of black raspberries, currants, licorice and spice in a supple, balanced, seamless style that will keep nicely for another decade at least.

Managed by Eric de Saint Victor, who is assisted by assistant winemaker Marie Laroze, Château de Pibarnon is making some of the best wines in this incredible appellation. Any customer wishing to taste the best expression of Bandol should jump on the bandwagon of this beautiful estate.

Grape variety

90 % MOURVEDRE + 10 % GRENACHE

Terroir

The vines dominate the valley, facing the sea, hanging from restanques to restanques, up to an altitude of 300 m, on these slopes forming a vast cirque sheltered from the mistral wind. The high altitude of the vineyard means cool nights and slow ripening of the grapes. The vineyard of Château de Pibarnon is planted on a very old Triassic soil, characterized by a very high level of limestone. This limestone favours the appearance of bouquets in the wines, and allows the extraction of very fine and elegant tannins. It is also the source of the freshness and minerality, giving the wines an exemplary race and flavour. The Château de Pibarnon is articulated on 12 main plots of land, all located on the heights of the estate: Bel Air, Jourdan, Pointes-Blanches, le Cirque.

Vinification
As the vine, the vatting requested lots of patience. Tannin extract slowly after long days of maceration and punching. Fermentation is followed by a very long Maceration (about 3 weeks) before running off. Breeding in casks of oak for 20 months. Casks park will soon be renewed at 100%. A diversification in choice of Suppliers and barrels of differents ages to best adapt the breeding of each of our terroirs.

Yield

Surface of 25 ha in terraces, on high slopes.

Yields of 30 hl/ha.

Harvested by hand, in 20kg crates.