Château de Pibarnon 2019

Eric de Saint Victor took over the family estate in 2000. The terraces his parents had dug into the limestone hillside quarry and the 9.5ha south facing amphitheatre of vines they created are the source of the estate’s flagship red. The 2019 is 90% Mourvèdre with 10% Grenache, vinified partly using whole berries and aged for 20 months in new oak. 2019 was also the year that Pibarnon obtained organic certification. Elizabeth Gabay MW: Restrained nose opens up to jammy flavours. Sweet fruit, creamy acidity and silky, firm tannins. Blue floral minerality. Full-bodied but elegant. Beatrice Bessi: Precise, lifted nose of jammy red fruit, flowers, dried mint and lavender. Fresh, glossy palate. Savoury balsamic lift. Good length and polished tannins. Poppy de Courcy-Wheeler: A serious wine with precise, intense fruit supported by oak. Ripe dark plum and damson fruit. Tight structure and bright acidity. Still early days yet.