Jean-Luc Colombo, Côtes du Rhône (France) 2016

 This is a wine that is all about Southern France.  With is dark purple hue, its sensory attributes of fruit, spice and hints of anise, its complex but absolutely accessible flavors and its silky-smooth texture, “Les Abeilles” is easy to love.  The grapes — Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre — are grown in ancient terraced vineyards, where all the work is done manually, without pesticides or irrigation.