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 8 to 25 years from vintage.
vintage8 yrs25 yrs27 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: black cherry, garrigue, leather, graphite
Palate: blackberry, iron, olive, savoury herb
Mourvedre-dominant Bandol from Alain Pascal's family estate at La Cadiere d'Azur. Dense, brooding and garrigue-driven with iron-rich depth.
What it pairs with
-
Gigot d'agneau with olives
Gros Nore's olive and iron register echo the leg of lamb cooked with Provencal black olives; firm tannins handle the meat. -
Dove or pigeon with cherries
The wine's black-cherry palate aligns with the cherry sauce; gamey iron lifts the meat. -
Aged Beaufort
Alpine cow's-milk cheese with nutty depth meets Mourvedre's leather and garrigue. -
Estouffade de boeuf
Long-braised Provencal beef stew finds a peer in the wine's structure and savoury herb register.
History
Alain Pascal launched Gros Nore in 1997 after working at Domaine de l'Olivette. The estate quickly gained critical attention for a notably tannic and structured Bandol style.
- 1997: First commercial Gros Nore Rouge bottled by Alain Pascal
Facts
- Producer
- Domaine du Gros Nore · visiting guide
- Grapes
- Mourvedre (80%), Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan
- Classification
- AOC Bandol
- Oak
- 20 to 24 months in large old oak foudres
- ABV
- 14.0%
- Price
- EUR 35 to 55 at retail
- Drinking window
- 8-25 from vintage
- Vegan
- Yes (no animal-derived fining)
Frequently asked about Domaine du Gros Nore Bandol Rouge
What does Gros Nore Rouge taste like?
Black cherry, garrigue, leather and graphite on the nose; blackberry, iron, olive and savoury herb on the palate. Full-bodied with firm tannins, high acidity and a long savoury finish.
When should I drink Gros Nore Rouge?
Drink between 8 and 25 years from vintage. The cuvee is built dense and brooding; decant 90 minutes for vintages under 15 years old.
Is Gros Nore Rouge vegan?
Yes. The estate does not use animal-derived fining agents, though it does not pursue formal vegan certification.
What food pairs with Gros Nore Rouge?
Gigot d'agneau with olives is the canonical pairing. Dove or pigeon with cherries, aged Beaufort and estouffade de boeuf are equally strong matches.
What grapes are in Gros Nore Rouge?
Mourvedre dominates at around 80 percent, with smaller shares of Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan from old vines at La Cadiere d'Azur.
Tags
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