Saint Péray

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. Saint Péray is the the rising star of the Rhône Valley white appellation. The Colombo and Fille Saint Péray vineyards with steep limestone slopes and 10% granite. They are located opposite to Valence and benefit from a fresher micro-climate. The grapes are harvested manually at perfect maturity in small cases. The alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are done in oak barrels (20% new). The wine is aged for one year on its lees with a weekly stirring to extract the maximum of aromas.

Tasting Notes: Colombo & Fille Saint Péray is a bright lemon colour. The nose has notes of citrus and hawthorn with a hint of quince. The mouth is full, rich, fruity and mineral. Well balanced, fresh and persistent this wine offers a very good potential for aging whilst keeping its own personality.

Food & Wine match: Round but straight to the point, excellent with Dover sole or creamy pasta dishes.

 
     

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