La Bastide Blanche : Bandol 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Bandol Blanc 2023 La Bastide Blanche

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a pale golden hue, enhanced by delicate green highlights that reflect its lovely freshness.

Nose
Complex and finely structured, the nose exudes aromas of ripe white peach mingled with distinctive notes of star anise and fresh herbs such as thyme and fennel.

Palate
Generous and expressive, the palate offers a dense texture supported by a light tannic structure. It reveals delicious aniseed notes perfectly balanced by a saline minerality evoking sea spray, extending into a remarkably persistent finish.

Food and wine pairing
Ideal as an aperitif to start a meal, this white wine pairs wonderfully with seafood such as oysters or scallops, grilled sea bass, as well as fresh goat cheese or feta. It will also enhance Mediterranean-style dishes flavoured with herbes de Provence.

Service and storage
Approachable in its youth, this Bandol Blanc 2023 has a fine structure that allows it to age gracefully, and it can be enjoyed until around 2029.

The saline and aromatic expression of a Bandol white wine

The estate
Founded in 1972 by Baptistin and Michel Bronzo, La Bastide Blanche is a key reference in southeastern France. Starting from an initially modest vineyard, the family managed to bring the estate to the top of its appellation. Today, Nicolas and Julien Bronzo, representing the third generation, run the estate. Deeply committed to environmental respect, the estate stands out for its sustainable practices and produces exclusively organic and biodynamic certified wines, authentically reflecting the richness of their Provençal terroir.

The vineyard
Located in the heart of the Bandol appellation, in Sainte-Anne du Castellet, the vineyard spans about forty-seven hectares laid out in terraces. The vines, averaging thirty-eight years of age, thrive on predominantly limestone soils, benefiting from an ideal microclimate. Just seven kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea, they enjoy the freshness of sea breezes while being protected by the Sainte-Baume massif. This unique terroir, swept by the mistral, is cultivated without any artificial irrigation and harvested entirely by hand.

Winemaking and aging
The making of this Bandol Blanc 2023 is carried out with meticulous care. After a rigorous double sorting of the bunches, the grapes undergo pneumatic pressing. The process continues with a short skin maceration, limited to three days, at strictly controlled temperatures between 17 and 18°C to preserve all the finesse and freshness of the aromas.

Grape varieties
This wine is made from a blend of Clairette (58%), Ugni Blanc (22%), Bourboulenc (14%) and Rolle (6%).