Notes from Skurnik:

"There is the appellation of Bandol with its plethora of producers, some good, some mediocre; and then there is Château Pradeaux, the unique, inimitable, standard-bearer for this ancient wine-growing district. The Château Pradeaux is situated on the outskirts of the town of Saint Cyr-sur-Mer that lies directly on the Mediterranean Ocean between Toulon and Marseilles. The estate has been in the hands of the Portalis family since before the French Revolution. In fact, Jean-Marie-Etienne Portalis, who inherited the estate in 1752, helped draft the Napoleonic Code and assisted at the negotiation of the Concordat under Napoleon the First. The estate was devastated during the French Revolution and suffered the effects of the phylloxera epidemic in the 19th century. Suzanne Portalis and her daughter, Arlette, retreated to the domaine during World War II and undertook to revive the Domaine. The domaine is currently under the direction of Cyrille Portalis, the sole direct descendant of Suzanne and Arlette. He continues to maintain the great traditions of this estate and is assisted by his wife, Magali, and now his two sons, Etienne and Edouard."

Varietal tension is the focus in this blend, functioning essentially as a declassified "baby Bandol" that will delight tech-minded enophiles. Sourced from 40-year-old organic estate vines positioned just beyond the Bandol AOC boundary line, this bottling leans heavily on a serious backbone of 60% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, and 10% Grenache. Rather than chasing the ephemeral, pale-pink market trend, winemaker Cyrille Portalis vinifies this parcel entirely in stainless steel to preserve pristine freshness while capturing the raw structural gravitas, phenolic grip, and deep concentration intrinsic to old-vine Mourvèdre.

On the palate, the wine delivers a striking, high-amplitude profile defined by sappy red currants, blood orange oil, and an intensely tactile, chalky minerality. The real draw for discerning palates is its structural architecture: a piercing acid line and a distinct oceanic salinity anchor the mid-palate, giving way to subtle, structural undercurrents of fine tannin that are rarely found in standard Rosé. It is an unapologetically savory, complex, and age-worthy bottle that demands a decanter, trading casual pool-side sipping for a serious seat at the dinner table alongside roasted poultry, bouillabaisse, or grilled octopus.