2000 Château de Pibarnon Bandol Blanc

Community Tasting Notes (4) Median Score: 86 points

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  3/6/2020 - forceberry wrote: 96 Points

  Typically a blend of Clairette (close to 50%), Bourboulenc (about 30%) and other local white varieties (about 25%). Fermented slowly in tanks, aged for 6 months in tanks (in some vintage a small portion in old oak casks). 13% alcohol. Tasted blind.
  
  Deep, concentrated golden yellow color with a bronze core. Very big, lush and moderately developed nose with rich and complex aromas of browned butter, some bruised apple, a little bit of herbal garrigue and dried herbs, light peanut butter tones, a hint of wizened apricot and a touch acacia honey. The wine is full-bodied, ripe and viscous on the palate with dry, concentrated and moderately evolved flavors of bruised apple, some creamy notes of panna cotta, light stony mineral tones, a little bit of roasted savory spices, a hint of wizened apricots and a touch of baked apple with caramel. The acidity feels somewhat modest, making the wine feel quite heavy, yet still high enough to keep the wine nicely in balance and from coming across as blowzy. The finish is ripe, juicy and slightly sweet-toned with long, complex flavors of browned butter, some creamy notes of panna cotta, a little bit of juicy peach, light wizened apple tones, a hint of roasted exotic spices and a touch of oxidative nuttiness.
  
  A beautiful, complex and wonderfully developed Bandol Blanc at its peak. The wine is certainly evolved, but despite its age and relatively modest acidity it shows surprisingly little oxidative qualities. The creamy and nutty tones suggest oaky tones, but to my understanding the wine sees no oak at all - or just very little old wood, tops - so it is all about tertiary complexity. All in all, a lovely effort that is drinking wonderfully well right now; I doubt the wine will benefit from any further aging, so better to drink sooner rather than later. A very rewarding wine, offering pretty much everything I can ask for from a lush, southern white. Very, very lovely. Highly recommended.

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  3/6/2020 - Lype Likes this wine:

  Nicely aged, heavy honey flauvors, lowish acidity, raisiny but not over the hill, still good and enjoyable.

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  3/16/2002 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 86 Points

  From the highest hills in the appellation. Substantial, low acidity, aromatically modest (verbena) but juicy and refreshing on a warm day. Good wine, characteristic and characteristically expensive.

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  5/19/2001 - andrewstevenson.com wrote: 86 Points

  A deepish colour. Good nose, with lots of character. Very characterful on the palate too. Quite refreshing with some acidity.

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