JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  6/10/2006 (link)

  (Jean-Luc Colombo, Les Ruchets Cornas Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Vinous

• By Stephen Tanzer
  January/February 2002, IWC Issue #100 (link)

  (Jean Luc Colombo Cornas Les Ruchets) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  2/1/2008 (link)

  (Les Ruchets CORNAS Colombo) Cornas and Hermitage Dear Friends, I’ve been far too hard on Jean-Luc Colombo over the years as he’s always reminded me of a California version of a Cornas producer - out to make modern wines that soften the tannins and mask the terroir they are gown in (Guigal is also a modernist but he seems to escape the same criticism by supplying just enough sense of place in his wines that everyone gives him more leeway than most). The point is that, after tasting a cadre of his older wines, Colombo’s best examples actually age (especially in cooler vintages like 2000 where the massive ripeness was not available but the material was). Are they Verset? No, but a lot of you out there would be very interested to try this set of Cornas and Hermitage as they are ageing in a quite a complex fashion and the prices are well within reason for winery-aged examples. Both of these are directly from the cellars at Colombo - they have never seen a retail store shelf and have never moved since release (they are off the original bottle racks in his cellar). The freshness is obvious: 2000 JL Colombo Cornas “Les Ruchets” EXTREMELY LIMITED From what was considered a meager vintage by most standards, this wine has aged beautifully. Now nearly eight years old, it is a glimpse into what can happen with patience. The modern edges have melted and the varietal Syrah has come out leaving he taster with a most interesting mix of old and new. Tasting the 1999 Ruchets next to this was like tasting Amarone vs. actual Cornas - everyone wants the 1999 but it’s the 2000 that weaves the web of magic. Original bottle ratings are irrelevant here as the wine bears little resemblance to what was reviewed five years ago (I think Parker gave this a 90 or 91 back when it was released). Keep in mind that the just bottled Guigal single vineyard Cote Rotie’s can seem massively oaked and modern in youth as well but after 5-10 years.... 1998 JL Colombo Hermitage “Le Rouet” Blanc EXTREMELY LIMITED This is a very rare wine at this point and Colombo only has a dozen or so original cases left (unlabeled and still in raw bottle stacks). He intended to use this parcel as an experiment to see how this white Hermitage aged over the next few decades but I convinced him to part with a few cases. He considers this one of his best wines in 1998 (a vintage that produced many exceptional and very long-lived reds in the North) so that is saying a lot. This wine is more traditionally vinified than his red wines and to get a decade-old, winery cellared Hermitage Blanc at this price is a steal. Just now coming out of its “10 year” slumber, this should be soaring in another 2-3 years. I don’t believe the 1998 Le Rouet Blanc has been exported before or reviewed by the US press - all the listings you will see are for the Hermitage Le Rouet Rouge (a decent wine but the strength of this bottling is the white cuvee). Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Rhone7750 Rhone7760