Château Pradeaux - Bandol - Red - 2019

Wine:

With great aging potential, the 2019 Red Bandol already promises an outstanding tasting experience. The powerful nose, which will benefit from proper decanting, reveals concentrated flavors of dark fruits, smoky notes, blood orange, and cacao. The tannic structure, though firm at this stage, shows remarkable purity and depth, with floral aromas, leather, and a wonderfully structured, muscular profile. While not quite ready for drinking today, this grand vin de garde will evolve beautifully over the next decade or more. Best enjoyed with a fine cut of beef or duck. 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 cuvée, with its firm tannic structure, reveals dense fruit flavors accompanied by notes 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

A revered institution in Bandol, now awarded 3 stars in the Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France—a distinction held by only three estates in the region—Château Pradeaux has been in the Portalis family since 1752.

For nearly three centuries, they’ve crafted bold, structured red wines that, with age, take on the character of great Bordeaux. The density, pedigree, and depth of recent vintages deliver an unmatched experience.

True to its roots, Pradeaux avoids any modern, overly polished trends. It remains a classic, with power and singularity that unfold over time. This is thanks to whole-cluster fermentation—a rare practice in Bandol—and extended aging (up to 48 months) in old wooden vats, some over 80 years old. It’s a unique profile, perfect for those who appreciate wines built for the long haul: cellar it for at least a decade, and it will continue to surprise and impress.