La Bastide Blanche : Cuvée Fontanéou 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes of La Bastide Blanche 2022

Tasting

Colour
A vivid violet hue reveals itself, reflecting remarkable depth and meticulously controlled extraction.

Nose
Highly intense, the bouquet reveals deep black fruit aromas such as cherry, blackberry and plum. With aeration, subtle notes of liquorice and spice unfold, bringing an herbaceous dimension and lovely complexity.

Palate
Both fresh and concentrated, the palate offers remarkable balance. It is built on refined, structured tannins, extending into an elegant finish marked by delicate floral and spicy touches.

Food and wine pairing
This red wine pairs wonderfully with herb-roasted poultry, feathered game or beef dishes accompanied by aromatic herbs. It also enhances vegetarian dishes such as roasted root vegetables or Mediterranean specialities like ratatouille or grilled aubergines.

Service and storage
To fully release its aromatic complexity, it is advisable to aerate or decant this wine before serving. With its solid structure, it boasts excellent aging potential.

Other characteristics
This wine has an alcohol content of 14.5%.

The elegance and complexity of a great red wine from Bandol

The estate
Founded in 1972 by Baptistin Bronzo, La Bastide Blanche is a leading name in southeastern France. Initially spanning around ten hectares, the estate now covers 45 hectares spread across four exceptional terroirs. Driven by a deep respect for the environment, the estate has been certified organic since 2012 and biodynamic since 2020. Today, the third generation, embodied by Nicolas and Julien Bronzo, runs the estate with passion, continuing a philosophy centred on low yields and impeccable quality.

The vineyard
Located on the foothills of the Sainte-Baume massif, just a few kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea, this terroir within the Bandol appellation benefits from an ideal microclimate. The vines thrive on soils of limestone scree and porous rock, encouraging deep root growth. The vineyard is farmed according to biodynamic principles, with exclusively hand-harvested grapes picked in several passes to ensure optimal berry ripeness.

The vintage
2022 was marked by warm, relatively dry weather. These favourable conditions allowed the grapes to reach excellent ripeness while retaining the acidity needed for perfect balance.

Winemaking and aging
After gentle destemming, the berries are transferred to stainless steel vats. Fermentation, lasting 25 days, takes place using indigenous yeasts and is accompanied by regular punching down of the cap. Malolactic fermentation then takes place in large wooden foudres. Finally, the wine is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, made up of 25% new oak and 75% used barrels, to preserve the pure expression of fruit and terroir.

Grape varieties
Mourvèdre (83%), Grenache (10%), Cinsault (5%) and Syrah (2%).