The following statement will be jarring for some: Once today’s made-to-perfection rosé is tasted, fellow labels like Domaine Tempier ($50), Château d’Esclans “Garrus” ($120), and Domaine Ott “Étoile” ($175) may very well be rendered obsolete. With that in mind, I suspect the next statement will be downright upsetting: Based on historic sales of Carrubier’s “Cuvée Ingenue,” less than 1% of our subscribers will be able to enjoy this cellar-direct offer before it sells out.

When we were the first to export/introduce this label to America three years ago, it felt as if we had discovered the “next big thing” right under everyone’s nose. And, once again, we felt that same rush of newfound excitement when today’s 2021 arrived on our doorstep last week. This is an outrageously delicious, region-elevating Côtes de Provence that has stormed to the top of my lengthy list of elite rosés. It’s just that mesmerizing. Bone-dry, intensely flavorful, deeply thirst-quenching—this is the pinnacle of Provence, i.e., the finest rosé $29 can buy right now. We have less than a pallet to our name, we’re allowing case purchases, and there isn’t more on the horizon…act fast!

We’ve repeatedly said that the vetting process for all of our wines is fairly intense, but we judge rosé to an even more extreme degree since innumerable legions of it flood the market each year. Provence rosé may sound easy in principle but I assure you it is incredibly hard to separate yourself from the masses. Carrubier’s “Cuvée Ingénue” does just that by reaching the absolute highest level of quality. 

Although Domaine Carrubier has been family-owned for just under a half-century, they have already mastered the art of Provençal rosé—and I say this confidently now that I’ve tasted three consecutive vintages. This is no fluke, no beginner’s luck: Carrubier is the real deal and their “Cuvée Ingénue” is poised to overtake the famous old guards of the region. They own 25 hectares of classic Provençal varieties that are planted just miles from the sea, in the sloping foothills of Massif des Maures. As a result, their vines enjoy both the intense, rot-preventing Mistral winds and the intense sunlight/warmth of the Mediterranean. 

They ensure that all of their vines are farmed without chemicals and, in a region that is heavily mechanized come harvest, the Carrubier team chooses the strenuous path by meticulously sorting and picking each cluster by hand. In the winery, their Grenache, Syrah, and Rolle (Vermentino) are de-stemmed and gently pressed after a very brief maceration. Following fermentation, the resulting wine matures on lees in stainless steel tanks for six months. The wine is quickly bottled to preserve every ounce of freshness. 

This ’21 spills into a glass with a radiant, salmon pink hue moving out to silver-tinted reflections on the rim. Within seconds, the wine returns electric aromas of pink grapefruit, redcurrant, damp green strawberry, wet rock, citrus blossom, struck flint, white peach, fresh cream, and crushed Rainier cherry. The palate is medium-bodied, plump, and absurdly thirst-quenching, ensuring that one bottle will not be enough if shared with more than two people. Best of all, these wines have a proven track record of improving by their second spring—meaning, if you still have a few bottles come 2023, you’ll be thoroughly impressed with their evolution. Cheers!