The price on this bottle of wine can’t be beat for a decent Côtes du Rhône.
Before I opened this bottle I was worried that it might be flabby, but that wasn’t an issue. The nose is a little tight, but much more intense and interesting than I was expecting from such a bargain wine. The bouquet has a smoky oak quality surrounding blackberry, rhubarb, a hint of strawberry and tobacco.
The palate brings a nice heat to it and decent acidity. I was surprised by the heat with only a 13.5% alcohol level. There isn’t a ton of fruit on the palate, but there is some blackberry. The finish adds a touch of spice, although there isn’t much length.
It’s a decent, drinkable and extremely affordable French wine. The only areas in which I would be critical are that it could have more intensity and complexity, and the viscosity is a slightly thin. All told, I can’t complain at this price.
Wine: Jean-Luc Colombo Les Abeilles
Variety: Côtes du Rhône
Vintage: 2005
Alcohol: 13.5%
Rating: 84
Price Paid: $6.96
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