by Patchen Markell » Tue Jun 21, 2016 10:40 pm
Château de Pibarnon 2015 Bandol Rosé. 13.5% ABV. $25. Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Soft medium-pink. Dry strawberry and watermelon-rind up front, a long wave of sagebrush in the back, even a little resinous. Satisfying play between the fruit and the herbaceous structure, but this is a rosé that wants, even needs, big flavors to go with its flesh and its long, assertive, slightly chewy finish. The absence of Grenache gives this (even) less straightforward ripe fruitiness in the midpalate than some rosés from the region. Very good overall, though I can't shake the feeling that the whole package doesn't quite hang together; maybe a little more time in the bottle will help the front and the back integrate.
cheers, Patchen
