Winemaker Notes
Cibonne Tentations offers an accessible, high-quality entry-point into authentic Côtes de Provence Rosé. Tentations is made with exceptional ingredients, including fruit from young tibouren vines at Clos Cibonne, as well as Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah grown by farmers in prime spots in the villages of La Crau and Carqueiranne, with whom the Deforges family has long-standing relationships. All vinification is done entirely in-house and by the experienced hands of Olivier Deforges. Tentations Rosé is focused on the expression of fresh fruit and does not undergo the extensive barrel aging process of the traditional Clos Cibonne line.
Offering immediate and unpretentious enjoyment, it is fantastic as an aperitif, and also has the complexity to compliment diverse flavors at the table.
Blend: 50% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 15% Syrah, 15% Tibouren
Whether it’s playful and fun or savory and serious, most rosé today is not your grandmother’s White Zinfandel, though that category remains strong. Pink wine has recently become quite trendy, and this time around it’s commonly quite dry. Since the pigment in red wines comes from keeping fermenting juice in contact with the grape skins for an extended period, it follows that a pink wine can be made using just a brief period of skin contact—usually just a couple of days. The resulting color depends on grape variety and winemaking style, ranging from pale salmon to deep magenta.
Cotes de Provence is an extensive but valuable appellation that includes vineyards bordering the main Provencal appellations. Its sites vary from subalpine hills, which receive the cooling effects of the mountains to the north, to the coastal St-Tropez, a region mainly influenced by the warm Mediterranean sunshine.
Here the focus is on quality rosé, as it defines four fifths of the region’s wines. Following in the rosé footsteps, a lot of new effort is going into the region’s red production as well. A new generation has turned its focus on high quality Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault and Carignan. Cotes de Provence white wines, which represent a miniscule part of the region as far as volume, are nonetheless worthy of consideration and can include any combination of Clairette, Semillon, Ugni Blanc and Vermentino.