Château de Pibarnon 'Bandol' Red 2012

Grape

90% Mourvèdre, 10 % Grenache

Tasting notes

Pibarnon’s top cuvée is a benchmark expression of Bandol, often referred to as one of the great mountain Bandols. A blend of 90% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache, it hails from the estate’s oldest vines rooted in high-altitude restanques (terraced vineyards), including sites like Bel-Air, La Grande Paguette, La Falaise, Les Pointes Blanches, Le Col, and Les Dolmens.

Thanks to the cooling influence of the sea breeze, the limestone-clay soils, and the altitude, this wine delivers a remarkable balance of power and elegance. Deep and structured, it shows dark fruit, garrigue, spice, and graphite, with the trademark freshness and tension that make it stand out among Mediterranean reds. A wine with serious aging potential, and a true expression of Mourvèdre in its noblest form.

More About The Winery

Perched high above the Mediterranean Sea in Provence, Château de Pibarnon is one of the most celebrated estates of the Bandol appellation. Its breathtaking vineyards rise up to 300 metres above sea level, planted on traditional Provençal restanques (stone terraces) that preserve both the soil and the surrounding ecosystem.

The estate’s unique terroir — limestone-rich soils, cool maritime breezes, and natural biodiversity — gives Pibarnon’s wines their hallmark refinement, depth, and elegance, earning comparisons to the great climats of Burgundy.

At Pibarnon, winemaking begins in the vineyard: vines are hand-trained and cultivated without weed killers or chemicals, yields are kept deliberately low (31–38 hl/ha), and a green harvest ensures perfect ripening. All grapes are hand-harvested and carefully sorted by the same dedicated team year after year, guaranteeing the highest quality fruit.

Renowned above all for its Mourvèdre-based reds, which combine power, structure, and longevity with Mediterranean finesse, Château de Pibarnon also produces elegant rosés and expressive whites that reflect its extraordinary terroir.