Club Corner

Rosé Club October 2026

Clos Cibonne  Cuvée Tradition 2024 First off, our bad for intimating, in last month’s notes, that the September’s selection would be the final bottling of the season. October, frequently the warmest month of the year here in SF, clearly deserves a dedicated shade of pink all its own. So, by way of apologizing for our error (and for it technically being November now), we have a real treat for you in  this, the actual final installment of 2026.  Back in May 2025, we featured two rosés composed in part of the rare Provencal varietal Tibouren. Here’s what we said about it then:  “A thin-skinned black grape thought to have originated in Mesopotamia, Tibouren is distinguished by its intensely aromatic nose and herbal palate (a combination often called ‘garrigue’ in wine, after the Mediterranean vegetation, and denoting flavors of  bay leaf, thyme, rosemary and sage), and various difficulties associated with its cultivation. Tibouren tends to produce irregular yields and is highly susceptible to coulure or “shatter,” which is when the grape fails to develop after flowering due to the plant’s metabolic response to extreme or unseasonal weather conditions.  The mild and consistent climate along the Mediterranean coast thus provides its most propitious conditions, but even here, we’re talking about truly miniscule quantities.”  Both of those bottles contained no more than 15% Tibouren however, the majority being made up of familiar Rhone varietals like Grenache and Mourvedre. What we have here instead is the only Tibouren-dominant rosé in existence as far as we know:  Clos Cibonne’s iconic, one-of-a-kind flagship Cuvée Tradition. Legendary amongst wine collectors for its texture, substance, and ability to age gracefully for a decade or more,  it is a limited wine made exclusively with estate-grown, organic Tibouren grapes, and a bit of grenache to meet Côtes de Provence blending guidelines. The key to its singularity is the fact that the wine is aged in century-old foudres under a veil of flor, a technique more commonly associated with the Jura or Jerez. The result is an utterly unique, complex, and transportive experience, redolent of the stunning Mediterranean land and sea scapes from which it hails.   Indeed, if forced to drink only one rosé for the rest of our lives, we very well might choose this one - and not even lament our cruel fate all that much.  See you in 2027 and… Think Pink!           The PlumpJack Wine & Spirits Team Clos Cibbone Cuvee Tradition 2024 Region/Country of Origin: Cotes de Provence, France  About the Winemaking: The vineyard, one of 18 Crus Classés of Côtes de Provence, consists of traditional goblet trained vines located close to the Mediterranean Sea in the foothills of the Maures mountains, overlooking Toulon’s harbor. The microclimate of Clos Cibonne is especially important to the uniqueness of the wines, as the proximity of the ocean brings much needed cool air to the vineyards in the summer months. Their location at the foot of the Maures mountains ensures good east-west ventilation, which is ideal for the health and balance of the vineyard.  After an early morning manual harvest, the grapes are destemmed and directly pressed. The must goes into temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, which are cooled to slow the fermentation process. After fermentation with native yeasts, the wine is racked into 120+ year-old foudres, where it ages biologically on the fine lees for one year sous-voile, under a thin veil of fleurette. Tasting Notes: “The 2024 Rosé Cuvée Tradition is a wild, exotic wine. Aged sous-voile in foudre for one year, this blend of 90% Tibouren and 10% Grenache unleashes a heady array of beeswax, stewed peach, chamomile, toasted bread and wild herbs. It’s a waxy, enveloping, utterly distinctive Rosé that is very much on the cerebral side, and also pushing the limits of VA. Quite honestly, the Tradition is unlike anything else I’ve ever tasted. Readers who haven’t tasted these wines before owe it to themselves to do so.” (BN) (Vinous.)   Winemaker: Olivier Deforges Price per bottle /varietal   $46.99 100% Tibouren  Suggested Food Pairing:  Grilled branzino with olive oil and lemon, Niçoise salad, Scallops, Goat cheese, Bouillabaisse