Domaine Cabirau Côtes du Roussillon
WHY WE LOVE IT
- After 27 years importing wine, HPS President Dan Kravitz took the plunge and purchased his own vineyard in Roussillon.
- Named Cabirau after the vineyard’s original designation, the domaine is in the town of Maury, on a hillside below the ancient Cathar fortress of Queribus.
- From 25 and 60 year Grenache vines planted in schistous soils and a mix of old vines and newly planted Syrah and Carignan.
Varietal Composition: 50% Grenache, 27% Carignan, 23% Syrah.
Elaboration: The Grenache was unoaked, the Syrah and Carignan underwent malolactic fermentation and 5 months maturation in 500l demi-muids.
Tasting Notes: The backbone of the Syrah and Carignan ally perfectly with the opulent Grenache, giving a medium-bodied wine of intense black fruit flavors, redolent of mountain herbs.
PRESS
2013 – 91 Wine Advocate
2015 – 91 Wine Advocate
2016 – 90 Jeb Dunnuck | 90-92 Wine Advocate
2017 – 91 Jeb Dunnuck
2019 – 91 Jeb Dunnuck
PRODUCER BACKGROUND
In 2008 Dan became the first American member of La Tautavelloise, a progressive Cooperative in a village adjoining Maury. The next year the two Cooperatives of Tautavel merged with one in Vingrau to form VTV (Les Vignerons de Tautavel Vingrau). Dan’s Cabirau has become the ambassador for the quality-obsessed team at VTV, with sales throughout Europe as well as the U.S., and soon (knock on wood) Asia.
Fast forward to 2018. There are now 23 acres (15.2 Grenache, 1.5 Syrah, 3.6 Carignan, 2.4 Macabeu) in the village of Maury, previously known for dessert wines. There have always been two bottlings. As the increasingly prestigious Roussillon Appellation requires at least 3 varietals, the first bottlings were IGP Grenache. Today the basic bottling is Roussillon, a blend of 70% Grenache, with Syrah and Carignan. The flagship bottling uses the new Appellation “Maury Sec”. Based on old vine Grenache, it also incorporates Syrah and Carignan.