Domaine Maby - Côtes-du-Rhône Variations 2016

In the historic region of Tavel, the Maby family produces wines of consistent quality—always authentic, pleasant, and full-bodied. Led by the dynamic Richard Maby, the estate continues to evolve, with the wines gaining in precision each year. The vineyards are located in the municipalities of Tavel, the Lirac plateau, and the neighboring Côtes du Rhône. Reasonable prices and the consistent quality of the wines make this estate a safe bet on the current market—across all three wine types.

Four grape varieties are blended in this full-bodied, warm cuvée with notes of blueberries, blackberries, and spices. These sweet, candied, and warm aromas carry over to the palate, where the wine is supple, framed by silky tannins, and rounded out by a delicately floral (violet) finish. A charming and approachable wine that’s ready to drink now.

This estate, known for its consistently high-quality wines—particularly its Lirac wines in all three varieties and its Tavel wines—was founded in 1950 by Armand Maby. In 2005, his grandson Richard took over the vineyard, which spans 53 hectares, mostly situated on the rounded pebbles of the Vallongue plateau; the vines are cultivated “naturally” and have been in the process of converting to organic farming since 2019. Since 2011, the eminent Rhône oenologist Philippe Cambie has been advising the estate.