# Château Pradeaux Bandol Rosé (2025)

- **Producer:** Château Pradeaux
- **Colour:** rosé
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Grenache Noir
- **Region:** Provence, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.0%
- **Average price:** €27
- **Vegan:** Yes
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 10–12 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** peach, nectarine, orange, redcurrant, ginger

## About this wine

Château Pradeaux has been owned by the Portalis family since 1752 in Saint-Cyr-sur-Mer within the Bandol AOC. Jean-Marie-Étienne Portalis was a co-author of the 1804 French Civil Code, while Countess Arlette Portalis helped establish the Bandol AOC in 1941. Renowned for crafting age-worthy gastronomic rosés, the estate relies on ancient clay-limestone soils near the Mediterranean sea to produce structured and complex wines.

## Interesting facts

- Co-owner Jean-Marie-Étienne Portalis was Napoleon's Minister of Religion and co-author of the 1804 French Civil Code.
- Countess Arlette Portalis helped create the official Bandol AOC in 1941.
- Unusually for rosé, this wine is built for extended cellaring of 5 to 8+ years.

## Food pairing

This high-structure gastronomic rosé demands rich, flavorful Mediterranean dishes. Its crisp acidity cuts through rich seafood like bouillabaisse and seared tuna, while its Mourvèdre-driven structure allows it to pair exceptionally well with grilled meats and herbal garlic chicken.

## Wine making process

Organically farmed grapes are hand-harvested and subjected to direct pressing with 24 hours of skin contact. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using native yeasts in temperature-controlled cement tanks. Malolactic fermentation is intentionally blocked to preserve natural acidity. The wine matures on its fine lees in cement and stainless steel tanks for six to eight months without oak contact prior to bottling.