CLOS CIBONNE CUVEE TRADITION ROSE

Grapes: 90% Tibouren, 10% Grenache
Place: Provence, France

Rare and spectacular rosé that’s complex, mineral-driven, savory and ageworthy. Like many families in the region, in the aftermath of the phylloxera, they ripped up their Tibouren and planted higher-yielding Mourvèdre. Quickly realizing their mistake, the family cut off the heads of the Mourvèdre grapes to graft their beloved Tibouren back on — after all, nothing could compare.

The winemaking is nearly as obscure as the grape itself. After stainless fermentation, the wines are aged under fleurette (like the flor in Jerez, or the Jura’s sous voile aging) for up to a year in century old foudre. This process keeps oxidation in check and allows a complex structure and unique flavors to form.

At Clos Cibonne, many unique components yield a truly unique wine. The Tibouren grape is thin-skinned, pale in color and yields earthy, spicy and herbaceous wines reminiscent of garrigue, the sun-baked herbs found on Provençal hillsides. The Mediterranean, just a few hundred meters away, provides marine salinity and cool breezes, tempering the blazing sun. But that special aging process which brings it all together in a one-of-a-kind wine is perhaps the key.
Notes of barely-ripe strawberry dominate here, but there’s are also beautifully intertwined notes of fresh cream, blood orange, orange peel, exotic spice, thyme and ginger; the palate is lush and broad, with firm acidity indicating it could spend time in your cellar and come out even more refined.

While most rosés are food friendly, Clos Cibonne’s Cuvée Tradition pairs admirably with some of the wine world’s most difficult matches — tomato dishes, strong cheeses, charcuterie, tomato bouillabaisse

Shipping & Return Information

Bottle depicted in photo may not be exactly what you receive.