Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence 'Cuvee Tradition' Rose

Clos Cibonne is one of the most prestigious and historic estates of Provence, with roots going back to 1797. I love stories like this -- families sticking with it through the highs and the lows. After falling on hard times in the 1980s, the estate was brought back to life in the late 1990s by Bridget Roux and her husband Claude Deforge, who set out to restore its former glory. Today, it firmly holds its place as one of the 18 Cru Classes of Cotes de Provence, and I think it is making some of the most distinctive wines in the region.

The heart of the estate is Tibouren, a rare local grape that I find incredibly compelling. Fermented in stainless steel and then aged under a thin veil of yeast in old foudres, this is not your typical Provence rose. The Cuvée Tradition leads with Tibouren, with a touch of Grenache, and it delivers texture, savory complexity, and real aging potential. I always tell people this is a rose for serious wine drinkers and one that can easily evolve over a decade. It's truly one of a kind, and I consider it be one of the greatest dry rosés on the planet.