“The star at Domaine Cabirau is the Maury Sec. I had it in a blind tasting with wines selling for as much as ten times the price… Dan Kravitz has hit a home run with this big-time winner.” – Robert Parker

Here’s the straight truth. A ‘real deal red’ at a mental price.

94 POINTS from Mr. Dunnuck plus 93 Advocate, and if we could pour it in your mouth, you’d buy this Wine Spies Exclusive. Plain and simple.

Dan Kravitz is a legend in the wine biz. For years he worked as a top importer and was well-known for unearthing hidden treasures. He was the first to import Domaine du Pegau, for example.

Then he got the winemaking itch. He bought some land in the village of Maury, part of the Cotes du Roussillon. The Domaine takes its name from the vineyard itself – “Cabirau.” And what a vineyard it is. Old vines ranging from 30-70+ years planted on a stony, steep hillside just below the famed Cathar fortress of Queribus. Talk about monumental!

His Cabirau wines have been known for a few things - massive scores (routinely getting 94-96+ points), incredible complexity and flavor, and VALUE. Even at retail, they’re worth the price of entry. At our price, they’re a must-have for ANYONE who enjoys good wine.

Deep red fruits and spices. Kirsch, juicy red raspberry coulis, black currant. Medium-bodied, with a fine, seamless feel front to back. It’s the perfect marriage of the in-your-face red berry confiture quality of Grenache with the meatier, savory side of Syrah. The playful fruitiness turns more serious and crazy-long on the expansive finish, showcasing a complex and age-worthy side that would put many a bigger league Châteauneuf-du-Pape to shame. Can’t imagine how gorgeously this would pair with a gamey bird roast.

Did we mention it’s 28 bucks today? Seriously?! Jeb’s right again, “the true strength of Dan’s portfolio is the plethora of high-quality, reasonably priced wines that satisfy both the palate and the wallet.” Back that truck up.

94 Points – Jeb Dunnuck

“Slightly more expensive than the other cuvées, the 2021 Maury Sec Second Effort is a bigger wine based on 62% Grenache and 38% Syrah raised all in old foudre. Its semi-opaque ruby hue is followed by a medium to full-bodied Maury loaded with ripe blackberries, smoked meats, ground pepper, and spring flowers. The Grenache component here certainly plays the lead role, yet the Syrah brings plenty of mid-palate depth and a broader mouthfeel compared to the Serge & Marie, where the Carignan plays a key role. Both wines are beautiful, and which you prefer will be due more to personal preferences than any real qualitative differences, although I suspect this Second Effort will be slightly longer lived. Drink bottles over the coming decade. Drink 2023-2033.”

93 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“Domaine Cabirau is the estate of former American importer Dan Kravitz, who sold Handpicked Selections last year to a partnership led by his longtime associate Sunil Khanna. Kravitz splits his time between Maine and Roussillon, and the wines are made at the local co-op, with which he has worked for many years. A bold, richly colored and flavored effort, the 2021 Maury Sec Second Effort is a 60-40 blend of Grenache and Syrah. Still in tank for the moment, producer Dan Kravitz expects that half the volume will go into foudre for another year of élevage prior to bottling. For the moment, it delivers attractive notions of thyme and sage, plus ripe cherries and berries on the nose, a medium to full-bodied feel on the palate and a soft, gently dusty finish. Drink 2023-2028.”