another dreary forecast has us dreaming of this perennial favorite from the Côtes de Provençe.
When you think of Provençal rosé, you probably picture pale pink, crisp, easy-drinking bottles perfect for summer afternoons. But Clos Cibonne’s ‘Cuvée Tradition’ Rosé is genre-defining—a legendary, age-worthy, rule-breaking masterpiece made from a nearly abandoned grape called Tibouren.
Clos Cibonne: The Rebel Winery of Provence
Of course, Clos Cibonne is a stunning vineyard overlooking the French port of Toulon. The lush estate was founded by Jean-Baptiste de Cibon, captain of Louis XVI’s Royal Navy. In the 1930s, the Roux family took over and made a bold move: They chose to focus on Tibouren, actually ripping out mature Mourvèdre vines to plant and eventually goblet train this indigenous Provençal grape.
That bet paid off—so much so that Clos Cibonne got special permission from French regulators to spotlight Tibouren on their labels. This bottling now represents one of just 18 cru classé Côtes de Provençe wines. Today, Brigitte and Claude Deforge run the estate, keeping the Tibouren dream alive.
The Magic of ‘Cuvée Tradition’ Rosé
The initial bottling is a crisp, minerally rosé with a lush mouthfeel. It delivers herbal, citrusy, and oh-so-salty flavors that scream Mediterranean cool. On the palate, you’ll find the classic wild strawberries tinged with blood orange, thyme, and a sea-salty breeze.
After crush, Clos Cibonne ages under a veil of yeast in giant old oak barrels, giving it an earthy, nutty complexity you don’t see in other pink wines. It’s bold, it’s textured, and it actually gets better with age. This wine can continue cellar aging for up to a decade.
Pair it with classics like Niçoise salad, charcuterie and cheese, or a whiff of sunblock and a striped cabana for instant French Riviera vibes.