From Aix-en-Provence: Half-day Sidecar Wine Tour
Leave Aix-en-Provence aboard a vintage sidecar and discover the legendary Sainte-Victoire mountain, Cézanne’s muse, along with charming villages and local wine tastings.
Structure
Drinking window
Best 1 to 6 years from vintage.
vintage1 yrs6 yrs8 yrs
Critic scores
No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.
In the glass
Aroma: grapefruit, white peach, pink pepper, rosemary
Palate: red currant, tangerine peel, saline, white pepper
High-altitude Mourvedre-led rose from Pibarnon's amphitheatre. Saline and herb-driven with grapefruit lift; ages four to five years easily, unusual for Provencal rose.
What it pairs with
-
Grilled langoustines with garlic butter
Pibarnon rose's saline depth matches shellfish sweetness; the wine's acidity cuts through butter. -
Soupe au pistou
The Provencal summer vegetable soup with basil pesto finds a peer in the rose's herb-and-citrus register. -
Pan bagnat
Nicoise tuna sandwich with olives and anchovy meets a rose with salt, herb and Mourvedre's grippy backbone. -
Aioli with seasonal vegetables
Garlic, olive oil and steamed vegetables ask for a structured rose; Pibarnon's body carries the meal.
History
Pibarnon's rose has been produced alongside the red since the Saint Victor family's first vintage in 1978. The cuvee is bottled to age, with the Mourvedre share giving structure that contemporary Provencal rose often lacks.
- 1978: First vintage of Pibarnon Rose under Saint Victor ownership
Facts
- Producer
- Chateau de Pibarnon · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Mourvedre (50%), Cinsault, Grenache
- Classification
- AOC Bandol
- Oak
- Direct press, stainless steel fermentation, brief aging on fine lees
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Price
- EUR 30 to 45 at retail
- Drinking window
- 1-6 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1978
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol Rose
What does Pibarnon Rose taste like?
Grapefruit, white peach, pink pepper and rosemary on the nose; red currant, tangerine peel, saline and white pepper on the palate. Medium-bodied with high acidity and a long savoury finish.
When should I drink Pibarnon Rose?
Drink between 1 and 6 years from vintage. Unusual for Provencal rose, Pibarnon's Mourvedre share gives it cellaring potential; well-stored bottles often show better at year 3 than year 1.
Is Pibarnon Rose vegan?
Yes. Pibarnon does not use animal-derived fining agents on its rose, though the estate does not pursue formal vegan certification.
What food pairs with Pibarnon Rose?
Grilled langoustines with garlic butter is the canonical pairing. Soupe au pistou, pan bagnat and aioli with seasonal vegetables are equally strong matches.
What grapes are in Pibarnon Rose?
Mourvedre dominates at around 50 percent, with Cinsault and a small share of Grenache making up the rest. The Mourvedre share is what gives the wine its body and aging potential.
Tags
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