Jean-Luc Colombo - Cornas Terres Brulees 2018
Price: $69.75
| Producer | Jean-Luc Colombo |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhone Valley |
| Subregion | Cornas |
| Varietal | Syrah |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Sku | 09207 |
Jean-Luc Colombo Description
TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES: The heart of the Colombo winery is based in Cornas, one of the smallest appellations in the Rhône Valley with 375 acres. Cornas, the birthplace of Syrah, has 300 million year old decomposed granite subsoils and dry-farmed vineyards, as irrigation is not permitted. Maximum yields are 34 hl/ha. Terres Brûlées (Burnt Earth) come from 20 different plots within Les Eygas slopes totaling 11 acres. The vines average 30 years old, with a 15-30° slope, and yield of 30hl/ha. These vines are located surrounding the Colombo home.
The 2018 vintage shows an excellent, even exceptional quality characterized by of the levels of polyphenols and record anthocyanins which indicate the potential for obtaining colorful and tannic, age-worthy wines. The harvest period was early this year with perfectly healthy grapes. Mid-August rains lowered extreme summer temperatures; however, it also created some bursts of berries and insect attacked which required preharvest stripping. This damage was mitigated in early September by the dry, rather warm and windy weather. Terres Brûlées was harvested on September 12th-18th.
WINEMAKING: Grapes are hand-harvested and de-stemmed. Fermentation takes places in stainless steel tanks.
AGEING: The wine is aged for 21 months in French oak barrels (10% new, 90% one-to five-year old barrels). The wine is bottled unfiltered and is vegan.
TASTING NOTES: A deep ruby-black color with purple hints. On the nose, blackcurrant, dark cherries, and blackberries, with spices, licorice, and cocoa. A very rich mouthfeel with flavors of black fruit, jam, vanilla, spice and mineral notes. Excellent with game, beef, lamb, barbecue foods, roasted pork and a variety of other hearty dishes.
Wine Spectator: 93 Points
Sleek and focused, with a racy core of red currant and bitter cherry coulis framed with a floral edge, and carried by a pure, mouthwatering mineral streak in the end.
Wine Enthusiast: 93 Points
Terres Brulées, or burnt earth, aptly describes the nose on this enticingly smoky, singed Syrah. Vinified from fully destemmed grapes and matured 21 months in oak (10% new), it has joyously youthful black-cherry and cassis flavors. Kissed by vanilla and framed in silky tannins, it's a fresh-footed expression of Cornas that's drinking at peak now through 2028.
