Newsletter 04
The Decanter Wine Show:
Last August, Laure Colombo was in Brazil for a very special event: THE DECANTER WINE SHOW.
It was an event of quality: 73 exhibitors from 13 different countries.
We established contacts which will further develop our relationship with Decanter, our Brazilian importer.
Bastille Day at the French Consulate of New York:
Our wines were showcased for a special event commemorating “Bastille Day” at the French Consulate in New York.
The cocktail party hosted by Philippe Lalliot, General Consul, welcomed several ambassadors and the French people who’d recently moved to New Jersey.
Harvest 2010 update:
After a winter where a snow storm was succeeding to another, the vineyard started off late. The flowering happened with difficult weather conditions that mean numerous small grapes and loose clusters. After one month without rain, the first drought symptoms appeared on July 14th (at Jean Luc Colombo, the vineyard is not irrigated in order to respect the « terroir » and the vintage.) August was good with hot days and cool nights which are ideal conditions to give finesse to a wine.
This year we started harvesting later than we did the past years. In Cornas we usually start to harvest the Syrah grapes on September 18th. The harvest date is different from one plot to another and decided according to the right maturity of the grapes.
The beginning of the fall gave us good weather conditions so the possibility to harvest the last clusters on October 6th.
This vintage offers small quantities but a high quality. The balance of the wines is superb and the first tastings promise that 2010 is going to be a great vintage.
Fires at the Blue Coast property:
At the end of July, a huge fire hurt the Blue Coast. The firefighters worked all night to stop the fires that were stirred up by the « mistral » wind. The vines were saved as they are a perfect fire wall. However around our vineyard, the pine forest was devastated (over 2200 acres were burned.)
Today it’s time to cut the burned pine trees.
We have the support of Mr. Diard, French House Representative and Mayor of the Sausset Les Pins town who is in favor of developing the viticulture to preserve the coast from the fires.
Jean-Luc Colombo decided to replant the hillsides with species less sensitive to fire: green oaks, olive trees, vines.
Did you know?
In our vineyard, no chemical weed killing is used thanks to the « paillage » of the soil. Since 2006, Cyril, our vineyard manager adds crushed wood in « Les Ruchets » parcel. The soil of “Les Ruchets” is very steep so the weed can’t be taken off mechanically. Covering up the soil is an ecological and durable way to fight against ill weed.
10 cm of crushed wood cover up doesn’t allow the light to go through and limit the germination of ill weed. Moreover it maintains the humidity and stops the erosion of the soil on the steep slope. Try to do it in your garden!
Cornas Les terres brulées at Caprice restaurant in Hong Kong (four seasons hôtel)
With superb views over Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon Peninsula from its location on the sixth floor, Caprice’s stunning surroundings feature Chinese-inspired Czech crystal chandeliers. With an open kitchen that provides a show of chefs at work, the restaurant offers contemporary French cuisine accompanied by the finest French wines like Cornas from Jean-Luc Colombo, as well as other European and New World wines from renowned vineyards. Another highlight is the exclusive Caprice cellar, with Hong Kong's widest selection of artisanal French cheeses.
One of only two restaurants in Hong Kong to receive three prestigious Michelin stars. Caprice is led by Chef Vincent Thierry. For the food matches, Sébastien Allano will tasting you the Cornas les terres brulées.