Châteauneuf du Pape Les Bartavelles Rouge

Wine information: Jean-Luc Colombo is a relatively young French wine company. Jean-Luc, and his wife, Anne, moved to Cornas from Marseille in 1982 to set up a pharmacy and oenology lab. Four years later, he bought his first vineyard and celebrated his first vintage in 1987. Top quality fruit is sourced from Colombo’s own 20 hectares of vineyards in the northern Rhone (where the company have their headquarters) primarily in Cornas and St Peray, and from his 40 hectares of pioneering vineyard development in the stunning ‘Blue Coast’ area. This is truly a family business: Anne is vineyard manager and wine-maker, as is Laure, their daughter, who joined the family domaine in 2010. Laure is also the figurehead for the sister brand of Colombo & Fille. The winemaking philosophy is classic – it is about respecting the fruit, with vinification and élévage serving to define a style that should exalt elegance and complexity, with good fruit and freshness, and balanced minerality, alcohol and tannins. Jean-Luc Colombo's Châteauneuf du Pape Les Bartavelles is a blend of approximately equal thirds Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre sourced from one of the best stony / pebbled terroirs for Chateauneuf du Pape. 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. A lively CNP that packs a punch and will age gracefully for 10 years or so.

Tasting Notes: Jean-Luc Colombo Chateauneuf du Pape Les Bartavelles has a bright and intense ruby colour. On the nose it is a powerful wine, full, complete and silky with notes of ripe fruit, liquorice, and gingerbread. In the mouth these aromas / flavours are elegant, rich and strength with mature and velvety tannins. The final is long and fresh with a well balanced structure

Food & Wine match: Pairs exceptionally well with game, beef stew, or lamb dishes.

Reviews: "Quite fruit-driven, with a big ball of cassis and red licorice waiting to expand, while notes of linzer torte, fruitcake and plum pudding fill out the broad, polished finish. Drink now through 2019. 3,600 cases made." 90 Points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

 
     

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