Domaine du Gros ‘Nor Bandol Ros 2023

Domaine Gros Nore is owned by Alain Pascal with over 17 hectares of vines in the prime sector of Cadiere dAzur. The first official vintage released was 1997. Prior to this, Alains father, Honore (his name is shortened to Nore to give the name of the Domaine as Gros Nor or Fat Honore) worked the vineyards but never made his own wine. Instead he sold the grapes to another leading Bandol producer at that time, Chateau de Pibarnon. These beautifully sited vineyards have an average age of 30 years with some located in the highest coolest part of Bandol.

Bandol is regarded as the First Growth of Provence producing the most serious, and well known, wines of Provence. The Mourvdre grape variety is the basis of great Bandol with appellation laws requiring a minimum of 50% for the red wines (though many use up to 100% for some cuvees). As well as Mourvdre (80%), the Gros’ Nor red also has a dash of Grenache (15%), and old vine Cinsault (5%). The wine is aged for 18 months in old 60 hl wooden barrels (foudres). There are no new barriques used. Alain places a heavy emphasis on ploughing and working the soil in the springtime. All grapes are hand harvested and sorted and bought quickly to the winery where the grapes are moved onto a vibrating table to remove unwanted material before being de-stemmed. The must of the rose and white are first cooled with the rose spending 24 hours on skins before fermentation.

Domaine du Gros Nore Bandol Rose is a blend of Mourvdre, Grenache and Cinsault. Together they bring complexity and aromas of peach, blood orange and nectarine with a beautiful roundness and a persistence in the mouth which delights your taste buds.