($12, Palm Bay International):  Colombo is a star producer in Cornas, a small appellation in the Northern Rhône.  His Côtes du Rhône, dubbed Les Abeilles (the bees) is always a winner as well.  With equal parts Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache, the 2009 is no exception. He manages to combine fruity and spicy–even a few peppery notes–seamlessly in this mid-weighted wine without one aspect dominating.  It’s a classy wine delivering more complexity than you’d expect from a Côtes du Rhône. 89 Michael Apstein Jan 17, 2012