Chateau de Pibarnon Bandol Rouge

I opened a bottle of the 2018 with roast lamb last weekend, and the cassis and plum flavors were incredibly smooth. It’s definitely one of those wines that shows better after a few hours in the decanter.

We opened a bottle with lamb chops and the warm cassis and plum notes came through beautifully—exactly the mellow, complex profile the 92-point score promises. It held up well over two hours, so it'd be a solid centerpiece for a longer dinner party.

Opened it on a quiet Tuesday just to see what the fuss was about, and wow—that cassis and plum puree depth is something else. It’s already smooth enough for a casual dinner, but I can tell another few years will make it even more of a showstopper. Definitely worth the points it got.