Callifolio - Bordeaux

Callifolio - Bordeaux - ink drop

Bordeaux is from L’Artisan Pastellier’s Callifolio line. L’Artisan Pastellier is a boutique retailer and ink maker based in Albi, France. They make a wide variety of ink styles using natural pigments and dyes. The Callifolio line includes 36 inks that are mixable to create an enormous spectrum of happy accidents!

Callifolio - Bordeaux - shades of color

Visually, this is a radiant, almost buttery soft purple. Appropriately named for France’s largest wine growing area, Bordeaux instantly brings wine to mind. The color is everything grape from my memories of childhood. While there is a bronze sheen on the splatter, nothing is seen in writing. It’s a decent shading ink, and the lights blending to darks remind me of droplets collecting and sliding downwards on a just-swirled glass of red wine. There’s a subtle brightness in this ink, a glow that adds life and instant appeal.

Callifolio - Bordeaux - ink swatch card

As a writing ink, Bordeaux is a solid performer. It’s easy to work with and seems to thrive in any situation. It’s wet and flows very smoothly. Strokes were clean and sharp on all papers tested, without even a hint of feather. Shading was more immediate on coated papers, but it was visible on all. Halo was only seen on coated papers, but I wouldn’t say it was a very strong trait. Drying was 15-20 seconds on coated papers, 5-15 on uncoated premiums, and 5 seconds on office copy. This is a very versatile ink, and a reliable performer.

Like the other L’Artisan Pastellier inks that I’ve tried (particularly the Callifolio series), Bordeaux is a high-quality, consistent ink. I think it’s quite attractive. It’s also extremely affordable. This is an easy ink to recommend!