Château Pradeaux - Bandol - Rouge - 2019

Wine:

The 2019 red Bandol is a wine of great potential, already promising an exceptional tasting experience. A powerful nose, which will benefit from good decanting, reveals ripe, concentrated fruit, smoky hints, blood orange, and cocoa notes. The palate, still tannic at this stage, unfolds with remarkable purity and a splendid expression, featuring a deep, rich texture and a magical concentration of floral aromas, leather, and a wonderfully refined, muscular structure. While not quite ready for immediate enjoyment, this wine is destined to evolve beautifully over a decade or more. Ideal with a fine cut of beef or duck, it has been rated 97/100 by RVF.

Vinification:

Hand-harvested, lightly crushed, fermented in temperature-controlled cement vats, aged for 48 months in 40 to 80-year-old oak tuns.

Color:

Intense, brilliant red.

Nose:

A powerful, ripe, concentrated nose marked by a mourvèdre/grenache duo revealing flavors of cocoa, blood oranges and smoky notes.

Palate:

This highly tannic cuvée reveals dense fruit with hints of violets.

Temperature:

Decant before serving, between 16 and 18°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Venison stew, spiced duck, rosemary lamb.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2040

Château Pradeaux stands as a time-honored pillar in Bandol, recently honored with 3 stars in the RVF Guide, a rare achievement within the appellation. Held by the Portalis family since 1752, the estate has a rich three-century history of crafting robust, well-structured red wines that gracefully mature into grand Bordeaux-like profiles. The remarkable depth and character of their recent vintages stir profound emotions.

Staying true to its heritage without succumbing to modern trends, Pradeaux remains quintessentially classic. It achieves its full potential over time, bolstering its strength and distinctiveness through unique whole bunch fermentation (exceptionally rare in Bandol) and extended aging periods (up to 48 months) in ancient foudres, some 40 to 80 years old. This distinctive approach is designed for true wine aficionados. Aged for at least ten years, these wines promise to continuously offer delightful surprises.