2009 Jean-Luc Colombo Côtes du Rhône Les Abeilles

Jean-Luc Colombo was a pharmacist until 1987, when he purchased 20 acres in Cornas, in the Northern Rhone Valley. He worked for a while as a wine consultant before producing wine under his own label starting in 1994. As an outspoken advocate of improving the wines of the Cornas appellation by using modern winemaking techniques and organic farming, Colombo has sometimes been a a controversial figure in the region. However his own wines have won acclaim. Known for his Cornas wines, he also makes Hermitage, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and other wines. He also owns the Provence label Cote Bleue. Robert M. Parker Jr. has called Colombo “one of the stars of the Cornas…He is producing some of the finest Cornas produced.”

The Southern Rhône Valley wine region extends from Orange in the north through the communes Lirac and Tavel in the southwest. The French call the region Côtes du Rhône Méridionales and it includes some of the best known appellations in France, such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Gigondas. The climate and landscape of the Southern Rhone differ significantly from the Northern Rhone. There are hot, often windy Mediterranean appellations near Nimes and the south, and higher altitude, relatively cool appellations such as Côtes du Ventoux to the east. Understanding the region can be confusing given that there are thirteen appellations and sixteen red and white grapes allowed for wines with appellation status. Syrah is grown here, but it is much less important than in the north. Grenache is the prominent red grape, though most red wines are blends of at least four varietals. Other commonly used red grapes are Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Muscardin. Counoise, Terret Noir, Vaccarèse and Syrah are also permitted. The primary white grapes are Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc, though Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne are permitted, as are Picpoul and Picardin. Of note is the Côtes du Rhone Villages AOC, which is only in the Southern Rhone. Though Côtes du Rhône AOC wine is made in both the north and south, the Villages appellation has stricter requirements for winemaking and is generally considered higher quality than simple Côtes du Rhône. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that “There is a vast amount of enjoyment to be discovered in the southern Rhône…for these are some of the most sumptuous and pleasure-giving wines produced in the world.”