Tibouren is an ancient red grape, which some theorize is indigenous to the Provence region along the French Riviera. It is most widely used in the production of rosé wines in Côtes de Provence AOC. Tibouren can be made into a varietal wine or blended with other grapes from the region, such as Grenache, Syrah, or Mourvedre. The most notable grower was André Roux of Clos Cibonne. The winery is named for Jean-Baptiste de Cibon, who was captain of the Louis XVI royal navy and original owner of the vineyard. The property was sold upon his death in the late 18th century. The purchasing family were ancestors of André Roux. André planted Tibouron on a vast majority of the vineyard land. He passed away in 1989 but his family has continued his tradition. The winery now produces multiple wines containing Tibouren, including rosé and red wines. Clos Cibonne owns 90% of Tibouren plantings in the region.
This week I had a 2022 Clos Cibonne Côtes de Provence ‘Cuveé Tradition’. It is a blend containing 90% Tibouren and 10% Grenache. This pale peach colored wine had aromas of pink grapefruit, grapefruit pith, strawberry, watermelon, brambleberry, rose petal and baking spices. It is fuller bodied than most rosé wines but is well balanced with the high level of acid. This dry wine has a moderate amount of alcohol. The complexity of fruit and non fruit notes slowly faded on the extended finish. This wine is an excellent food wine that also has the capability to bottle age for a few years. I would pair this with poached fish, cheese and charcuterie, spanakopita, veggie pizza with garlic cream sauce or lamb containing dishes.
-TheLooseTannin
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