PASSION INTEGRITY FAMILY CURIOSITY TERROIR The Colombo’s have Jean-Luc Colombo’s wines express “My passion is to create All of JLC’s wines are The winery was founded dedicated their Côtes du the typicity of their terroir with wines that give people highly personalized, in 1984 by Jean-Luc Rhône wines, Les Abeilles elegance and character, from pleasure. I want each sourced from Colombo’s Colombo and Anne (in French “The Bees”), to Côte Rôtie in the northern Rhône own vineyards and from Colombo, his wife. to his Provençal roses. The heart glass to be remembered these precious insects carefully selected which thrive in their of his winery is based in Cornas, for their statement of domains under his direct Jean-Luc, Anne and their the smallest appellation in the quality. All my wines are vineyards. As bee colonies consultation. Each wine daughter Laure, now have been declining Rhône Valley. Covering only 325 like a song praising the has a special name and head winemaker, globally at alarming rates, acres, it is highly delineated with simple but important custom watercolor label continue to ensure the the Colombo’s & the Taub’s incredibly diverse microclimates pleasures of life: which brings to life a part production of fine wines have been committed to that make an extraordinary observing nature, enjoying of the Colombo history. of typicity from major solving this problem with impact on the profile of the food and sharing with appellations of the Rhône the development of the wines. Ancient vineyards are Jean Luc and Anne Valley, as well as the Bee Helpful Program, found mostly on steep, south- others.” Colombo were both Languedoc and Provence, facing terraced slopes. --Jean-Luc Colombo whereby a portion of each awarded the Legion of while maintaining bottle sold of Les Abeilles Decomposed granite soils and Honor – France’s highest sustainable farming goes to the UC Davis stressed growing conditions award for their influence practices. Department of Entomology greatly contribute to the on the French wine for research. quintessential quality and industry. character of Cornas wines. 1 APPELLATION // JEAN LUC COLOMBO GRAPE VARIETAL // Cornas AOC 100% Syrah Cornas is a small French wine appellation located in the northern Rhône region of Cornas “Vallon de l’Aigle” Syrah’s origins have been France that produces only red wine popularly debated, but its exclusively made with 100% Syrah. Covering modern viticultural home is only 325 acres, it is nonetheless highly unquestionably the Northern delineated with incredibly diverse DID YOU KNOW? Rhône Valley. Today, Syrah is microclimates that make an extraordinary one of widely planted red wine impact on the profile of the wines. grape varieties. “Vallon de L’Aigle” or Valley of the Eagle is a micro-blend with ABOUT THE WINERY // only four barrels produced. It is STYLE // the quintessential expression of Innovation, passion and dedication are A micro blend with only 800 bottles Jean-Luc’s savoir-faire in Cornas. what drives Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo, produced, this is the quintessential It is made only in exceptional whose contributions to Rhône Valley expression of Jean-Luc’s savoir-faire years, from the free-run juice winemaking has remained unparalleled in Cornas. It is made only in from his highest altitude single- since 1984. Colombo’s innovative approach exceptional years, from the free run vineyard parcel of only 0.3 in the northern appellation of Cornas was juice of his highest altitude single hectares (.74 acres), comprised nothing short of revolutionary; his vineyard parcel. of 70 year-old vines. expressive, character-driven wines have helped breath new life into this highly- Aged 22 months in 1/3 new, 1/3 1 prestigious and acclaimed appellation. year old, 1/3 2-year old barrels. The nose shows great complexity, Together with their daughter Laure, who is with dominant notes of violet and now head winemaker, the Colombos wild raspberry over hints of incense, continue to ensure the production of fine tobacco and juniper. wines of typicity from major appellations of the Rhône Valley, as well as the Languedoc Very intense and sophisticated and Provence, while maintaining palate, with silky yet robust tannins. sustainable farming practices. 2 APPELLATION // Cornas AOC JEAN LUC COLOMBO GRAPE VARIETAL // Cornas is a small French wine 100% Syrah appellation located in the northern Rhône region of France that produces Cornas “La Louvée” Syrah’s origins have been only red wine exclusively made with popularly debated, but its 100% Syrah. Covering only 325 acres, modern viticultural home is it is nonetheless highly delineated with unquestionably the Northern incredibly diverse microclimates that Rhône Valley. Today, Syrah is make an extraordinary impact on the DID YOU KNOW? one of widely planted red wine profile of the wines. grape varieties. La Louvée is a single vineyard site (it is only 0.8 hectares or 2 acres) characterized by granite areas located ABOUT THE WINERY // on steep slopes of the right bank of Innovation, passion and dedication are the Rhône at an elevation of 755 feet what drives Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo, above sea level. Vines are 70 years STYLE // whose contributions to Rhône Valley old and the yield is quite low. The Syrah grapes come from a winemaking has remained unparalleled single vineyard comprised of 80 since 1984. Colombo’s innovative approach All work in the vineyards is done year-old vines that the Colombo in the northern appellation of Cornas was manually and without the use of family has owned since 1992. nothing short of revolutionary; his pesticides or irrigation, respecting the Aged for 22 months in oak barrels expressive, character-driven wines have local environment. (15% new, the rest in one-to three- helped breath new life into this highly- year old barrels). This wine is rich, prestigious and acclaimed appellation. powerful and complex, with a concentrated palate of plums, Together with their daughter Laure, who is berries and distinct minerality. now head winemaker, the Colombos continue to ensure the production of fine wines of typicity from major appellations of the Rhône Valley, as well as the Languedoc and Provence, while maintaining sustainable farming practices. 3 APPELLATION // JEAN LUC COLOMBO Cornas AOC Cornas is a small French wine appellation GRAPE VARIETAL // located in the northern Rhône region of Cornas “Les Ruchets” 100% Syrah France that produces only red wine exclusively made with 100% Syrah. Covering Syrah’s origins have been only 325 acres, it is nonetheless highly popularly debated, but its delineated with incredibly diverse modern viticultural home is microclimates that make an extraordinary DID YOU KNOW? unquestionably the Northern impact on the profile of the wines. Rhône Valley. Today, Syrah is "Les Ruchets" (The Beehives) is one of widely planted red wine grape varieties. Colombo’s signature wine, first ABOUT THE WINERY // released in 1987. The vineyard Innovation, passion and dedication are where the Syrah grapes are what drives Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo, grown is 5.4 acres (2.2 hectares), whose contributions to Rhône Valley with 90 year-old vines. The yield winemaking has remained unparalleled is very low, so the total STYLE // This wine is aged for 22 months, since 1984. Colombo’s innovative approach production is only of 9,000 in the northern appellation of Cornas was bottles. in oak barrels 15% in new, 85% in one- to three-year-old oak nothing short of revolutionary; his barrels, then fined with egg expressive, character-driven wines have whites and bottled unfiltered. On helped breath new life into this highly- the nose, complex and elegant prestigious and acclaimed appellation. with notes of spices, violets, and black fruit and vanilla. On the Together with their daughter Laure, who is palate, powerful, structured now head winemaker, the Colombos notes of black fruit, herbs, white continue to ensure the production of fine pepper and blueberry. wines of typicity from major appellations of the Rhône Valley, as well as the Languedoc and Provence, while maintaining sustainable farming practices. 4 APPELLATION // JEAN-LUC COLOMBO Cornas AOC Cornas is a small French wine appellation located in the northern Rhône region of Cornas “Terres Brulées” GRAPE VARIETY // France that produces only red wine 100% Syrah exclusively made with 100% Syrah. Covering only 325 acres, it is nonetheless highly Syrah’s origins have been delineated with incredibly diverse popularly debated, but its modern microclimates that make an extraordinary DID YOU KNOW? viticultural home is unquestionably impact on the profile of the wines. the Northern Rhône Valley. Today, The name Cornas means Syrah is one of widely planted red “scorched earth” in the language wine grape varieties. ABOUT THE WINERY // of the Celts, implying the warm Innovation, passion and dedication are temperatures of the region. Jean- what drives Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo, Luc Colombo’s “Terres Brulées” whose contributions to Rhône Valley translates to “burnt earth.” STYLE // winemaking has remained unparalleled The wine is aged for 21 months in oak since 1984. Colombo’s innovative approach The older, gnarled vines in Cornas barrels (10% new, 90% one-to five- in the northern appellation of Cornas was are depicted on the label of this year old barrels). The wine is fined nothing short of revolutionary; his wine by artist, painter, illustrator with egg whites and bottled expressive, character-driven wines have and long-time family friend Marie unfiltered. Thanks in part to the aging helped breath new life into this highly- Annick Dutreil. Each of JLC’s process and the decomposed granite prestigious and acclaimed appellation. labels are designed with a unique soil where vines grow, this is a truly and meaningful water color rich and complex wine. On the nose, Together with their daughter Laure, who is which tells the story of each of blackcurrant, dark cherries, and now head winemaker, the Colombos his wines.