Jean-Luc Colombo Côte du Rhône 'Le Vent Blanc' 2016

Jean-Luc Colombo's wines provide exceptional quality for every day Rhône drinking. The affectionate nickname for husband, father, winemaker and charismatic figurehead, Jean-Luc, is 'the winemaking wizard of the Rhône Valley' and this sassy, swaggeringly-fruited blend of Clairette Blanche and Rousanne really does feel like it's sprinkled with magic.

Jean-Luc Colombo is a relatively young company by French standards. In 1982 the family moved to Cornas in the heart of the Rhone Valley and purchased the first vineyard in 1986. Today as well as owning vineyards in Cornas, they are a pioneering vineyard development in the stunning blue coast area and have their own winery, bottling line and oenology laboratory in the centre of Cornas.

Their philosophy is classic – it is about respecting the fruit, with vinification and elevage 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 originally ran his own pharmacy and oenology laboratory before decided to produce his own wines. Husband, Father, winemaker and charismatic figurehead with the affectionate nickname: “The winemaking wizard of the Rhone Valley”. A dynamic food and wine lover, Jean-Luc’s passions are to create wines that give people pleasure, and for each glass to be remembered for its statement of quality.

The grapes are harvested manually in small cases, in order to respect the quality of the fruit. The grapes are vinified at a low temperature in stainless steel vats.

The dominance of Clairette brings a refreshing freshness to this tipple. Fine, floral notes mingle with fresh citrus fruits and a hint of minerality – an attractively rounded wine with surprising complexity and a lively finish.