2024 Clos Cibonne Tibouren Cru Classe, Provence, France

Medium garnet, slightly hazy from minimal filtration. The nose is dried herb and garrigue , thyme, wild fennel , over red plum and a distinct saline, faintly nutty note. since its 1955 Cru Classé designation, it's been permitted to label its wine varietally as Tibouren, a nearly extinct Provençal grape the estate has championed since the 1930s. The wine ages sur lie in foudres dating back to 1903, where it develops under "fleurette", a thin, sherry-like yeast veil comparable to flor that gives the wine its saline, faintly oxidative complexity rather than any fruit-driven polish.