Featured in Wine & Spirits magazine’s Top-100 Best Buys, Domaine Cabirau offers a true treasure chest of discoveries from a hidden corner of Southern France. Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate also raves that; “these are terrific wines that show the classic fruit and minerality of the region, yet also possess a beautiful sense of elegance and purity. They should be on any wine lover’s shortlist.” It now is parked on ours and should be on yours too. The sub-$30 pricing with great accolades is a rare combination, lest that needs to be pointed out too.

A beautiful shade of crimson, with fire-y slithers of garnet and deep mahogany within. Pure with grenadine, cherry liqueur, game, leather, earth, mineral, smoke, and spices on the kaleidoscopic nose. Continuing as wild and fascinating on the palate with intense ripe boysenberry, plum, lychee, licorice, and incense, and leading to a long and pleasing finish with echoing nuances of red berries macerated in clove and nutmeg. This screams for game, be it birds like pheasant or guinea fowl, to wild boar or venison. It’s the perfect red to please fans of the Old World who also appreciate boutique New World reds.

The genius behind this project is Dan Kravitz, founder of prestige importer Hand Picked Selections established in 1985. He was instrumental in putting top Rhône producers like Domaine du Pégau on the map and popular demand led him to start this personal project. He chose Maury in Roussillon because this trendy appellation is well established for fortified wines while presenting infinite opportunities with organically farmed dry red equally intense and striking as the famous wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Jeb Dunnuck points out that; “the true strength of Dan’s portfolio is the plethora of high-quality, reasonably priced wines that satisfy both the palate and the wallet.” This pursuit is evident with First Things First, a winemaking ‘accident’ turned a one of a kind and never to be repeated specialty cuvée.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

96 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate - “Importer-proprietor Dan Kravitz has once again scored terrific success – and you will score astonishing values! – with his latest Domaine Cabirau bottlings. A new Cuvee, the 2015 Maury Sec First Things First is a blend of 60% Grenache, 22% Carignan and 18% Syrah that had 75% of the crop brought in at the “correct” time, and 25% brought in over a week later due to broken equipment in the cellar. It offers sensational notes of black raspberries, cassis, violets, and graphite as well as full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin and an undeniable sexiness that makes it already impossible to resist. Count me a fan and I’d suggest breaking more equipment during harvest in the future as well (or just harvest later). Drink 2018-2025.”

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck - “The first vintage of the new flagship 2015 Maury Sec First Things First is a parcel selection that spent just under two years in foudre. Another brilliant wine from this estate, it showed brilliantly from barrel and now from bottle. Black raspberries, dried flowers, exotic spice, and candied orange blossom all flow to a medium to full-bodied, spicy, elegant, seamless beauty that has building tannin, impeccable balance and a great finish. It needs a decant if drinking anytime soon and will be even better with another year in bottle.”