Domaine Isabel Ferrando Colombis Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2020

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

2020 vintage. I believe 100% Grenache. Needs tons of time and/or air. Light-medium body. Maybe at a 9.3 in a decade. Right now, a bit of a mystery. 1.17.24.

Jay Kline

Popped and poured; enjoyed over a couple of hours. The 2020 Chateauneuf-du-Pape “Colombis” pours a slightly brighter and more translucent ruby relative to Isabel's standard CdP. The nose is more perfumed and ever so pretty with primarily (though beautifully ripened) red fruit, carnations, and licorice. Confirmed on the palate with a “Dear God that is Grenache” sort of impression. A bag of Twizzlers. Medium tannin and medium acid. The finish is sexy, in a refined and mature sort of way..a bit like Susan Sarandon in Alfie. Ooof. Colombis is 100% whole cluster Grenache from from a blend of three lieu-dits (Colombis, led Roules and le Cristia); all aged in foudre exclusively. Overall, this retains the trademark elegance found in her other wines but the fleshiness of the Grenache is palpable. This is glossy, slick, impressive texture. Hard to say how this will age since I’ve seemed to struggle to understand the aging arc of 100% Grenache wines. That being said, I think this will drink very well in the near term while the fruit is so fresh. Somewhere around 2028 however, this might quiet quit on everyone…and may take some time to emerge from that to show some secondary characteristics that are redeeming. But shit…this stuff is expensive so I would drink it now while it’s so impressive.

Steve Rura

Hell yes. Raspberry nose. Red fruit overlayed with crushed dry rose, savory herbs, spicy black pepper, red licorice, assertive tannins and a delicate acidity. Unconventional but absolutely great Chateauneuf du Pape. Give it a lot of air, and drink it slowly over the course of an evening. With cheese ravioli and Miles Davis’s Kind of Blue. Divine. (Also not a blend, but 100% Grenache)