Northern Rhone tasting with special guest Ian Ribowsky US ambassador for our good friend from Coronas Jean Luc Colombo

Wednesday, October 10, 2018 - 07:30 PM

This Event has been read: 1923 times.

image002_1581.jpg

This is one of the disadvantages of wine:  it makes a man mistake words for thought.  -Samuel Johnson

 

Tonight, we have one of the masters of the Northern Rhone Valley, the lone flag bearer for the commune of Cornas in the norther Rhone, Jean Luc Colombo.  These wines are very hard to find as this is a very small region and many of the top wines are ridiculously expensive.  The wines of Condrieu, Cote Rotie, Hermitage, Cornas, St. Joseph and Crozes Hermitage are some of the ultimimate expressions of Syrah and Viognier that exist and there are some blends here but may of the wines of the Northern Rhone are single varietal. I have included all the wines that we have from these appellations on this e-mail for those of you that can't make the tasting.

We have had Jean Luc and his daugher Laure here to host tastings at the Wine Watch in the past but tonight we have the US Ambassador Ian Ribowsky. Ian will tell the story of this iconic winery from the northern Rhone and introduce each wine for an in depth study of region while Chef Toni Lampasone will be making a special meal to accompany these tasting wines.  The fee for this event is $95 + tax for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.

This weeks' menu for the Wine Bar is also at the end of this e-mail we are open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday night this week.

image006_1398.jpg

 

Northern Rhone tasting with special guest Ian Ribowsky US ambassador for our good friend from Coronas Jean Luc Colombo
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
7:30 PM
An image of Jean Luc Colombo La Dame du Rouet Rose Coteaux d'Aix en Provence 2016

Jean-Luc Colombo La Dame Du Rouet Rosé
Price: $21.75   Sale $19.14

From hillsides vineyards with limestone soils, located near Mont St Victoire approximately 5-7 miles directly west of Aix. This region benefits from a warm Mediterranean climate and maritime influence.
GRAPE VARIETIES 40% Syrah, 40% Cinsault, 20% Grenache
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES Traditional “saignée” method is used. Harvested with minimal intervention, no destemming and immediate fermentation at a very cool temperature of 61° F for 10 days. No malolactic fermentation to keep freshness & acidity. Refined in stainless steel tanks for 5 months at low temperatures. Minimal fining and tangential filtration.
DESCRIPTION Color: Medium pink Aroma: Aromas of redcurrants and raspberries with fresh herbs from the area such as rosemary, thyme, fennel and pine. Taste: Dry, elegant style with a fine structure and crisp acidity.

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo “Les Abeilles”Côtes Du Rhône Aoc Blanc

Jean-Luc Colombo “Les Abeilles”Côtes Du Rhône Aoc Blanc
Price: $13.50   Sale $11.88

Grapes are hand-picked from vineyards in Cairanne, Rasteau and Vacqueyras in the southern Rhône
GRAPE VARIETIES 80% Clairette 20% Roussanne     
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES Grapes are hand-picked and fermented at a low temperature in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged on its lees, 15% in oak barrels and 85% in stainless steel tanks DESCRIPTION Color: Light straw Aroma: Floral and fruity bouquet Taste: Complex, crisp,well-balanced

 

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo “La Redonne” Côtes Du Rhône
Jean-Luc Colombo “La Redonne” Côtes Du Rhône 
Price: $18.50   Sale $16.28

Vines grow on granite terraces and gravelly alluvial plains of the northern Rhône Valley. The Viognier is sourced from 20-year-old vines just south of Condrieu, and Roussanne from 30-year-old vines near the appellation of St. Joseph. All work in the vineyards is done manually and without the use of pesticides or irrigation, respecting the local environment.
GRAPE VARIETIES 70% Viognier; 30% Roussanne WINEMAKER Jean-Luc Colombo, considered a « Revolutionary Enologist » by Robert Parker, works closely with his wife, Anne and daughter, Laure to craft award-winning wines from the South of France.
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES The grapes are harvested manually in small baskets and vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Fermentation takes place over 3 weeks at low temperatures, with a maximum of 64.4°F. 20% of the wine is matured on its lees in two- or three-year-old barrels; the remaining 80% is matured on its lees in tanks to enhance freshness. The wine is then aged for 12 months
DESCRIPTION Color: Light straw gold Aroma: Viognier brings finesse and aromatic richness of flowers and the Roussane brings strength and round aromas of yellow fruit. Taste: Exotic flavors of mangos and apricots are perfectly balanced by a nice acidity. Full notes of honey and peach develop in the glass, ending with a creamy finish.

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo “La Belle De Mai” Saint Peray

Jean-Luc Colombo “La Belle De Mai” Saint Peray  
Price: $48.00   Sale $42.24

Grapes are hand-picked from 80-year-old vines on steep limestone slopes with 10% granite. The vineyards are opposite Valence in the northern Rhône Valley and benefit from a cool microclimate.
GRAPE VARIETIES 100% Roussanne     
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES  Grapes are harvested manually. The wine is fermented and matured 50% in new oak and 50% in 1-year-old barrels with malolactic fermentation in the barrels. The wine is left on the lees with a weekly stirring to extract maximum aroma for 6 months. Total time spent in barrel is 14 months.
DESCRIPTION  Color: Beautiful golden color  Aroma: An intense floral and fruity nose with notes of iris, candied fruit and fresh hazelnuts   Taste: Full-bodied with rich, concentrated flavors. Well-balanced with a lingering finish 

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo “Amour De Dieu” Condrieu

Jean-Luc Colombo “Amour De Dieu” Condrieu
Price: $90.00   Sale $79.20

Grapes come from 40-year-old vines that grow on very step granite slopes near the village of Malleval in the northern Rhône Valley. All work in the vineyards is done manually and without the use of pesticides or irrigation, respecting the local environment.
GRAPE VARIETIES 100% Viognier
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES Grapes are hand-harvested and de-stemmed. Fermentation takes places in stainless steel tanks at an average temperature of 54°F. Fermentation then continues in barrels at approximately 60.8°F, making the total fermentation time 3 weeks. The wine is aged in 50% new and 50% 1-year-old oak on the lees for a period of one year. A weekly stirring of the lees during the first few months is followed by malolactic fermentation.
DESCRIPTION Color: Golden yellow, characteristic of a great Condrieu Aroma: Complex nose of apricots, pear, acacia and soft spices accompanied by hints of vanilla Taste: Rich, powerful and aromatic on the palate with a long and elegant finish; intense flavors of lychee nut, peach and exotic fruit. This wine is well balanced, with a fresh, pleasing acidity.

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo    “Les Abeilles” Côtes Du Rhône Aoc Rouge

Jean-Luc Colombo    “Les Abeilles” Côtes Du Rhône Aoc Rouge  
Price: $13.75   Sale $12.10    

From ancient terraced vineyards comprised of gravel on a bed of sandy clay in the area of Cairanne and Gigondas in the southern Rhône Valley
GRAPE VARIETIES 33% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 33% Mourvèdre   PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES The grapes are harvested manually, then de-stemmed, lightly crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. 20% of the wine is aged in 2- to 3-year-old oak for nine months
DESCRIPTION Color: Intense purple Aroma: Red fruit, leather and spice Taste: Complex, with flavors of licorice and spice and silky tannins  ANALYSIS Alc.: 13.5%

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo   “Les Bartavelles” Châteauneuf Du Pape

Jean-Luc Colombo   “Les Bartavelles” Châteauneuf Du Pape
Price: $45.75   Sale $40.26

This wine has its origins in one of the best terroirs of river pebbles in Châteauneuf du Pape.
GRAPE VARIETIES  1/3 Syrah & 1/3 Grenache & 1/3 Mourvèdre from 50-year-old vines
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES  The wine undergoes 4 days of pre-soaking followed by 7 days of fermentation in steel vats at a controlled temperature of 82.4ºF. There is then a 3 week period of maceration at 86ºF. The juice is free run, and spends 18 months in one-, two- and three-year-old oak barrels. The wine is not filtered but is fined.
DESCRIPTION Color: Dark purple  Aroma: Thyme, rosemary and other herbs typical of the “garrigue,” or Mediterranean scrubland  Taste: Ripe fruit and licorice mingle with smooth tannins, and culminate in a long, impressive  finish

Image result for Jean Luc Colombo “Les Fées Brunes” Crozes-Hermitage

Jean Luc Colombo “Les Fées Brunes” Crozes-Hermitage
Price: $26.25   Sale $23.10

Old vines from a single vineyard planted on the terraced granite slopes of this renowned appellation, in the northern sector of the Rhone valley, located on the left bank of the Rhone.
GRAPE VARIETIES  100% Syrah            
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES  Grapes are harvested by hand into small, shallow containers and vinified traditionally, undergoing a  lengthy maceration in the process. The wine is aged 15 months in oak barrels ranging from one to two  years in age
DESCRIPTION  Color: Dark purple  Aroma: Intense; reminiscent of blackberries and licorice, supported by notes of black pepper  Taste: Jammy fruits, such as ripe plum and fig, with a silky texture and a glossy finish

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo “Les Collines De Laure”

Jean-Luc Colombo “Les Collines De Laure”   
Price: $18.75   Sale $16.50

Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo created “Les Collines de Laure” (The Hills of Laure) as a tribute to their only daughter. The family started planting young vines in the Cornas region of the Northern Rhone Valley in the early 1990s and appropriately named the fruit of their labor after their young daughter.  Inspired by her family, Laure Colombo has become increasingly involved in the family business. The 2010 vintage of “Les Collines” is Laure’s own creation: fresh, bright and youthful – just like her! With no oak, this wine is the pure expression of the Syrah grape when grown in the granite terroir of the Northern Rhone.  The image on the label is of young Laure Colombo dancing on the hills of Cornas, something she used to do as a child.
GRAPE VARIETIES 100% Syrah from Northern Rhone (Cornas, St. Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage)  
DESCRIPTION Color: Ruby red Aroma: Redcurrant, raspberry and slight spice Taste: Elegant, refined and feminine notes of wild strawberry, raspberry and violet lead way to a  balanced finish.

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo “Les Collines De Laure”

Jean-Luc Colombo “Terres Brûlées” Cornas    
Price: $58.50   Sale $51.48


Vines average 20-years-old from granite areas on the steep slopes of the Rhône Valley’s right bank. All work in the vineyards is done manually and without pesticides, respecting the local environment.
GRAPE VARIETIES  100% Syrah       
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES  The grapes are 100% de-stemmed, and undergo fermentation in stainless steel vats at a controlled temperature. The fermentation process consists of 4 days of pre-maceration, fermentation with a maximum temperature of 82.4°F, and then maceration for 3 weeks. The wine is matured for 18 months in one-year-old barrels and is unfiltered.
DESCRIPTION  Color: Deep red, almost inky  Aroma: Red fruit, blackberries, black currants and hints of tobacco  Taste: Rich, concentrated and spicy; persistent aromas of red fruit and licorice add elegance to the structure. This wine will benefit from two to three years’ cellaring.

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo  “La Divine” Côte Rôtie

Jean-Luc Colombo “La Divine” Côte Rôtie 
Price: $82.50   Sale $72.60

Ferrous mica-schist terraces, very steep, covered with a layer of sand and lime. The Viognier comes from 30-year-old vines from Côtes Blonde and Brune.
GRAPE VARIETIES 95% Syrah; 5% Viognier WINEMAKER Jean-Luc Colombo
DESCRIPTION Color: Deep ruby red Aroma: Superb smoky nose of exotic spices and jammy black fruit Taste: Dense flavors prevail; a very complex, concentrated wine

Image result for Jean-Luc Colombo  “Les Ruchets”Cornas

Jean-Luc Colombo  “Les Ruchets”Cornas  
Price: $99.75   Sale $87.78

Grapes come from 90+-year-old vines on the steep slopes of the right bank of the Rhone. All work in the vineyards is done manually.             
GRAPE VARIETIES  100% Syrah       
PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES  Grapes de-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel with 4 days of pre-maceration, 7 days  of fermentation with a maximum temperature of 82.4°F and 3 weeks of post-maceration. The wine is then aged for 18 months, 70% in new oak and 30% in one-year-old oak barrels. It is unfiltered.
DESCRIPTION  Color: Inky black  Aroma: Complex nose with both floral and fruity notes  Taste: Flavors of black fruit, black currants and herbs dominate, accented by a touch of vanilla.  A solid, concentrated wine that will continue to evolve for at least two decades.

 

Menu:

Selection of Cheese and Charcuterie

Wild Mushroom Soup with Quail egg Poached in Ciacci Piccolomini Olive Oil and basil foam

Walnut and Goat cheese Crusted rack of lamb with beet ratatouille

 

The fee for this tasting which includes dinner is $95 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com. Please let us know when you make your reservation if you have any dietarty restrictions and chef Toni will be happy to accomodate you.

 

image031_0187.jpg image033_0167.jpg

What happens when you combine a creative, adventurous spirit with an unbridled passion for wines of quality and character? For lovers of fine wines from France’s Rhône Valley, the answer is simple: Jean-Luc Colombo.

Hailed as "the winemaking wizard" of the Rhône, Colombo has achieved a high-profile international reputation for innovative wines, bursting with personality.

A native of Marseilles, Colombo developed a strong admiration for the wines of the Rhône Valley in the late 1970s. A devotee of the Syrah grape, he was convinced that the northern Rhône appellation of Cornas offered enormous potential for producing stellar quality Syrah. Following his conviction, he opened his own wine laboratory in Cornas and developed a thriving reputation as a wine consultant, breathing new life into the then-obscure wines of Cornas.

Shortly after, Colombo began purchasing his own vineyards first in Cornas then throughout the Rhône Valley and Languedoc - leading to the establishment in 1994 of Vins Jean-Luc Colombo. The wines of Vins Jean-Luc Colombo are all highly personalized, sourced from Colombo’s own vineyards and from carefully selected domains under his direct consultation.

With wines as vibrant and memorable as the man who makes them, Vins Jean-Luc Colombo has made a major impact on the evolution of modern French winemaking.

Cart Summary

Your shopping cart is empty!

Wine Watch Events

Wine Bar Closed Private Happy Hour 4pm-7pm Wine Bar

Tue, Mar 19, 2024

Glynn

Wayfarer Wine Tasting with Special Guest Winemaker Todd Kohn

Wed, Mar 20, 2024

"Now wines are wonders; great wines are magical; and winemakers are mad. Like horse fanciers, they are always tryi...

Happy Hour Tasting Featuring Champagne Henriot with Special Guest Kelly McFadden

Thu, Mar 21, 2024

“Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right.” Mark Twain Can you have t...

VIntage Brunello di Montalcino Wine Tasting back to 1979

Fri, Mar 22, 2024

I like to drink wine more than I used to... Don Corleone, The Godfather The wines that I like to d...

Giuseppe Rinaldi Barolo Tasting going back to the 2003 vintage

Sat, Mar 23, 2024

“High and fine literature is wine, and mine is only water; but everybody likes water.”  ― ...

1989 Cos D'Estournel Tasting 12 bottles from the same case - A study in Bottle Variation

Thu, Mar 28, 2024

 "It wasn't always like this. Before Paris, people didn't drink our wine. I mean, my friends ...

1990 Vintage Bordeaux Wine Tasting Including Chateau Latour, Chateau Montrose, Chateau Lynch Bages and more...

Fri, Mar 29, 2024

The Wines of Bordeaux give tone to the stomach, while leaving the mouth fresh and the head clear.  More than one inv...

Domaine Leroy Burgundy Tasting

Sat, Mar 30, 2024

When it comes to wine, I tell people to throw away the vintage charts and invest in a corkscrew. The best way to le...

Wine Bar Closed for Private Event

Thu, Apr 4, 2024

Wine Bar Closed for Private Event -Fafone

Sine Qua Non California Cult Syrah and Grenache Wine Tasting

Fri, Apr 5, 2024

Sine Qua Non California Cult Syrah and Grenache Wine Tasting Friday, April 5th 7:30pm 2021 Sine Qua Non White Ce...