Jean Luc Colombo Cote du Rhone Blanc “Les Abeilles” 2020

If Les Fées Brunes shows Colombo’s belief in Syrah and granite, Les Abeilles reveals his quiet devotion to Rhône whites — wines made not for aperitif novelty but for the table, the season and the long arc of a meal. Drawn from organically farmed vineyards across the southern Rhône, Les Abeilles (“The Bees”) is a classic blend led by Roussanne and Viognier, varieties that thrive in sun but gain their character from careful balance rather than excess.

In the glass, the wine glows a soft gold, immediately signaling warmth and texture. The aromatics lean winter-savory rather than floral excess: baked pear, quince, and honeyed stone fruit, layered with almond skin, chamomile, and a gentle beeswax note that gives the wine its name and its soul. There’s a subtle herbal undertone — fennel pollen, dried hay — that keeps the nose grounded and unmistakably Rhône.

On the palate, Les Abeilles is generous without heaviness. Ripe orchard fruit and honeyed richness are carried by a quietly firm spine, finishing with a nutty, lightly savory edge that invites food rather than competing with it. This is a wine made for cool evenings, alongside roast chicken, pork loin, winter squash or creamy cheeses ... dishes that let its breadth and textureshine. 

As a counterpoint to Colombo’s northern Rhône Syrah, Les Abeilles completes the picture — a reminder that Rhône whites, in the right hands, can be just as soulful, serious and seasonally perfect as their red counterparts.