Jean-Luc Colombo " Les Abeilles" Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2019

Producer: Jean-Luc Colombo

Grapes: 80% Clairette & 20% Roussanne

Where: Côte du Rhône

Country: France

Taste: Light straw color. Intense perfumed aromas with citrus, green apple, white peach and pear with herbal and chalky mineral notes. On the palate, the lively Clairette combines with the rich Roussanne to produce a well-balanced wine.

Vibes with: A food-friendly wine that pairs with fish including sushi, poultry, and vegetarian fare.

Additional Info: 

Innovation, passion and dedication are what drives Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo, whose contributions to Rhône Valley winemaking is unparalleled. A devotee of the Syrah grape and armed with a pharmacy degree, Jean-Luc and his wife, Anne, opened their wine laboratory in 1984, “Centre Oenologique des Côtes du Rhône” and quickly developed a thriving reputation as a wine consultant throughout France. For their significant life-long contributions to their country, both Jean-Luc and Anne have been awarded the French Legion of Honor, France’s highest civilian award. The Colombo’s innovative approach in the northern appellation of Cornas was nothing short of revolutionary. Today, Jean-Luc Colombo’s wines express the typicity of their terroir with elegance and character, from the Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône to his Provençal roses.

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“Les Abeilles” (The Bees) is named for the bees that inhabit the vineyards in the southern Rhône Valley where this Côtes du Rhône is produced. The bees thrive in these vineyards because no harsh pesticides are used. Colony Collapse Disorder is threatening honey bees and their crucial role in agriculture. The Colombo family, life-long beekeepers and grape growers, are committed to combating this global concern and along with the Taub Family Selections have developed the Bee Helpful Program. For every consumer purchase of Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles (“the bees”) Côte du Rhône Rouge or Blanc a donation is made to the UC Davis Department of Entomology in support of their research to help restore healthy honey bee colonies.

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Winemaking: Grapes are hand-picked and fermented at a low temperature in stainless steel tanks. 

Aging: The Clairette is aged in tank. The Roussanne matures in oak (two- to five-year-old barrels) for six months.