“With cellars dating from the 16th century near the village of Castellet, Chateau Vannieres is one of the great domaines in Provence. It consists of 47 hectares, 33 of which are planted to vines, with clay-limestone soil and an average age of 35 years. Agriculture is sustainable. Eric Boisseaux and his son (the family hails originally from Burgundy) craft exceptionally expressive wines from the traditional varietals of the area: Mourvedre, Grenache and Cinsault. All the grapes are harvested by hand and destemmed. Each varietal and each parcel are fermented separately so that the estate can retain maximum flexibility in blending the different elements of each cuvee. Made primarily from Mourvedre, the substantial Bandol Rouge is fermented in epoxy-lined cement tanks and aged in foudre and barriques for 20-24 months when they are bottled.”