
Elegant, aromatic, cassis. Very fine still. — 2 months ago
Best red if the trip, a Franchetti from Pascopissciaro, a round bodied nerello mascalese from the cellar at Cave Ox in Solicchiata on the north slope of Etna. Would be even better with a few years — 5 months ago
Got ahold of three of these allocated babies that get sold out every year by spring.
Volcanic must, spicy berries on the nose.
Wohooo what a mouth punch. Prickly on the tongue. Bracing acidity balanced with an earthy, breezy cherry and berry medley. An herbaceous, mint-adjacent undercurrent as well.
Both stunning, subtle in its way, and stunning in fruit quality and minerality — 5 months ago
After tasting next to other organic/low intervention wines, the structure and finesse of this wine becomes more evident. Smooth red and dark fruit on the palate with good but no overwhelming acidity. Drinks like a wine from a colder climate. — 6 months ago
Red fruit, violets, green apple, lithe and crisp. — 7 months ago
Great to have an Etna wine from time to time. I have read in the past that this is like an Italian Burgundy and I agree in many respects. Medium weight, earthy with bags of minerality, ultra savoury with a lovely red fruited perfume. 100% Nerello Mascalese. We have fond memories of visiting Sicily (including Etna) approx 7 or 8 years ago with Peter Scudamore-Smith MW. — 16 days ago



Etna: Poured into a decanter about an hour prior to service; enjoyed over the course of dinner. The 2021 pours a deep garnet color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears and some fine sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with Bing cherry, Asian five spice, porchini, oregano, crushed gravel and minerals. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Another stunner from this incredible, own-rooted parcel in the Calderara Sottana contrada featuring vines over 140 years old. Insane. Drink now with some air and through 2041. — 2 months ago
As good as ever. As good as always. — 6 months ago
So happy this rose exists — 16 days ago
Black fruits galore with huge granitic expression. Super mineral, earthy and clean, with major concentration and real freshness. So alive and energetic, the fruit has incredible vigor. Has that classic ashy Cornas thing. From 6 different plots, with granite and some limestone. Fantastic. — 3 months ago
Barnyard and amazing — 5 months ago
light bodied — 7 months ago
Vanessa
🐟 What would you pair with grilled swordfish?
🍇 Tonight we’re opting for a rosé based almost entirely on the Tibouren grape. When it comes to Tibouren, Clos Cibonne is always an exceptional choice. 👌
Clos Cibonne is an iconic producer in Provence, France 🇫🇷 considered a guardian (and certainly a champion) of the ancient Tibouren grape, a rare variety with roots linking back to Mesopotamia.
🌿 Tibouren has a wild, rustic structure and is often used in the production of pale, perfumed, herbal, and unmistakably coastal rosés.
🍾 This particular bottling is the “Cuvée Spéciale des Vignettes” made with fruit coming from some of the oldest Tibouren parcels on the Clos Cibonne estate (60+ years in age), lending depth and complexity and a runway for serious longevity.
🥂 Clos Cibonne also holds a coveted title as a “Cru Classé” wine based on the 1950s classification within the Côtes de Provence AOC. Its wines are among the most admired in the region.
🪵 Something that sets this rosé apart is that it’s aged under a fleurette — a thin veil of yeast (similar to the flor in Sherry) — in large, neutral oak foudres, creating a savory, textural, almost oxidative nuance that’s distinctively delicious.
🍽️ It’s a beautiful pairing with our grilled swordfish over thinly sliced heirloom tomatoes , cucumbers 🥒 , arugula and feta topped with a caper-olive relish.
🍓 The delicate red fruit, savory, dried herb (garrigue) and saline elements of the wine complement the flavors of the meal in wonderful harmony.
Cheers to the practice of food & wine pairing — may it be a lifelong endeavor!! — 3 days ago