1996 Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol

Chateau de Pibarnon is in La Cadiere d’Azur, in the Bandol appellation of southern France. It was founded in 1978 when Comte Henri de Saint Victor and his wife moved to the area and bought a 13th-century Provencal chateau and 10 acres of land. Today the chateau owns 150 acres and son Eric de Saint Victor is the winemaker. The rocky vineyards are exceptionally sited on hills where the telegraph lines once ran between Toulon and Paris. The grapes are exposed to southern facing sun and the hot, dry mistral winds, which the Saint Victor family believes adds to the richness of the grapes. The classic grape of the Bandol region is Mourvedre, and the chateau’s acclaimed red wine is Mourvedre. However the estate also makes a rose of Mourvedre and Cinsault. It makes a white wine of Clairette, Bourboulenc and sometimes such grapes as Marsanne and Roussane.

Provence is the region on the Mediterranean coast of southeastern France known for sun-drenched Lavender fields and an easy-going, gracious attitude toward life. Until the last few decades it was also known for producing large quantities of unremarkable rosé, often sold in bulk. Today its most famous wines are still rosés, but their quality has improved dramatically. Notable red wines are also being made in Provence, particularly in Bandol, a tiny appellation east of Marseille. The largest appellation is Côtes de Provence. Other appellations include Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence, Côtes du Luberon, Cassis, Bellet, Palette and Les Baux de Provence. Red and white wines are made throughout the region, despite the attention paid to rosé. Red wine grapes grown in Provence are Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah and some Cabernet Sauvignon. White wine grapes are Clairette, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Bourboulenc and Ugni Blanc.