The vineyards of Cornas
A dream : Give the best from each most beautiful terroirs
Fulfillment of a childhood dream came swiftly, with the purchase of their first vineyard, a small parcel of old-vines planted in a granite hillside overlooking the village of Cornas. The 1987 release of Jean-Luc’s first vintage of Cornas “Les Ruchets” was a “succès fou” taking the French wine world by storm, and becoming the first in a long series of vintages of what is universally regarded as Colombo’s icon wine. Early success fueled the swift acquisition of additional vineyards. Throughout the years fol¬lowing his meteoric rise, Jean-Luc remains true to his passion for winemaking and constant to his guiding principles, namely: Respect for nature and the unique qualities of each and every terroir by an uncompromising support of a sensible alliance between traditional approaches to vineyard management and a modern understanding of the life cycle of the vine.
A style : the perfect balance
Winemaking and maturing serve to define a style that should exalt fruit and freshness, or, depending on the vintage, silky elegance and finesse of the different cuvées. One only key word: Balance.
An appellation: Cornas, Syrah’s Origines
Small appellation of 110 hectares Cornas is located on the left bank of the Rhone River, on very steep slopes. It is where Syrah was born and where it gives its greatest expression because of the landscape covered with junipers and oak trees and its granitic soil where it benefits from Mediterranean influences which bring great character to the wine. Surrounded by the other esteemed appellations of the northern Rhône Valley, Cornas wines from Jean-Luc Colombo are elegant and alluring Syrah with lovely flower aromas such as lilac and iris, and the fruit bursts with flavors of black currant and licorice. The great wines of Cornas have made the appellation elected “Best Appellation of the Rhône Valley” in 2005 by the Revue du Vin de France.