Bandol Rosé Château de Pibarnon 2010 (P)

Pibarnon's greatness owes much to the passion of Comte de Saint Victor who bought the property when he fell in love with its wine on holiday and subsequently restored both the 13th century basted (a Provençal country house) and the vineyards, which were in disarray. The hill upon which the vineyard plots are located is something of a geographical oddity, in that they contain Triassic limestone, which is completely different to the granite and other soils of the region. This, together with the altitude of Pibarnon's vineyards (at 300m) explains the elegance and aromatic finesse of the wines. The Mourvèdre vines are protected from the fierce Mistral by the semi-circular amphitheatre of terraces.

A rich, ample attack reveals a very fine structure. Aromas of peach and ripe summer fruits give way to a long, powerful finish with hints of mild spice and provencal herbs.