2013 Clos Cibonne, Rose Tradition, Tibouren, Cru Classe, Cotes de Provence, France.
The Cibonne Tibouren Rose spends a year in barrel on it’s lees before bottling, it is one of the most serious and interesting Rose wines out there and it is a stunning example of handcrafted joy in the bottle you can find, especially for the price. The 2013 vintage is richly detailed with a mix of mineral, spice, light fruit and creamy/textural pleasure with good acidity elegantly framing the whole, this is complex and sexy Rose done in a old fashioned way that just plain works. Tibouren is an ancient native grape found in Provence, it pre-dates the Mourvedre and Cinsault usually found in these wines and it is very scarce, it is an unusually light pigmented red varietal that has a robust nature, the red wine made from it is rarely darker than the Rose, but it makes for a unique wine, especially in the Clos Cibonne and it a must have, and will so many great Rose choices available, this one certainly stands out and it goes particularly well with rustic cuisine and outdoor food choices. The 2013 Clos Cibonne Tibouren Rose starts with dried flowers, spicy mineral, candied orange rind and tart cherry leading to a family full palate of strawberry, pink citrus, raspberry tea, watermelon and flinty pepper as well as hints of cedar, toffee and wet stones. This is a mouth filling Rose that feels gorgeous and expansive, but still has the energy and vitality to refresh and be vibrant, there is a lot going on here and it should entertain for a year or so more, but this groovy Rose is drinking superb right now, this soft pinkish/orange really is a lovely wine.
($26 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
