I absolutely love Pradeaux Bandol. It is the stalwart, the Michael Jordan, the Beyonce,the Paul Mcartney, of its area. I like Tempier a lot but I prefer Pradeaux. There is a reason why. Pradeaux makes some of the most long lived, old school and traditional Bandols out there. This is Mourvedre in all of it's glory. With another 5-10 years in the cellar, the 2010 Pradeaux will turn into something incredible. I previously sold the Les Lys des Pradeaux, which is meant to be drunk young, and I keep getting e-mails about how great it was.

Once Pradeaux has reached its apex, there is nothing like it. The aromatic complexity needs time to develop but once it does it is by any measure of of the world's great wines. This is not on the Fass 4-3-1 plan (buy 4, drink 1, cellar 3), because drinking this wine, especially this great vintage young is akin to a rigid, unforthcoming and charmless experience, and believe me I want you to buy this wine, but once it gets "there" you'll want 4, actually maybe more. Nuances of tobacco, spices, herbs de provence, leather, cocoa and much more develop with time. It is positively headspinning having mature Pradeaux from a great vintage. And the harmony on the palate is beyond anything in Bandol, besides older Tempier. And also, freshness. So much freshness. Mature vintages of this wine are a revelation. And if you don't know, you will know.

What makes Pradeaux special? Limestone soils mainly with some clay and the sea is so close give the 21 hectares a constant breeze. There in lies the finesse. The sea breeze also ensures healthy vines and minimal treatments. The final ingredient is low yields at around 28-30 hl/ha when the legal minimum in Bandol is 40 hl/ha. Fermented with the stems which is fine for Mourvredre as they ripe thoroughly along with the grape. They also contribute tannin, but this is a wine for keeping. It is kept in barrel for 3-4 years, the large traditional type, then bottled. The you wait.
Lyle Fass
Fass Selections
February 20, 2015

Edit this Article