Domaine du Colombier is located in the Northern Rhône Valley, in the left bank of the Rhône river. The estate has been part of the family since the First World War. The owners gradually moved from a sharecroppers status to that of tenants. Florent Viale joined his father in 1990 and decided to bottle part of their production in 1991. Now they sell 80% in bottle, 20% in bulk.
Guillaume Pourtalet, Fran Kysela and Florent Viale
This 12 hectares (30 acres) domaine spreads over the two communes of Tain l'Hermitage and Mercurol and includes 1.6 hectares (4 acres) of Hermitage, 1.2 hectares (3 acres) of white Crozes-Hermitage and 9.2 hectares (23 acres) of red Crozes-Hermitage. The vineyard, located on stony hillside, is planted with old vines (50-55 years of age): Syrah for the red and Marsanne for the white. The grapes are harvested by hand.