By Jean-Luc Colombo
Cornas 'La Louvee' 2013

Background
Innovation, passion, and dedication drive Jean-Luc and Anne Colombo, whose contributions to Rhone Valley winemaking are unparalleled. A devotee of the Syrah grape and armed with a pharmacy degree, Jean-Luc and his wife, Anne, opened their wine laboratory, "Centre Oenologique des Cotes du Rhone," in 1984, and quickly developed a thriving reputation as a wine consultant throughout France. Jean-Luc and Anne have been awarded the French Legion of Honor, France's highest civilian award, for their significant lifelong contributions to their country. Today, Jean-Luc Colombo's wines express the typicity of their terroir with elegance and character, from the Cote Rotie in the northern Rhone to his Provencal roses.

Wine Details
Appellation: AOC Cornas, Rhone Valley, France
Varietal Composition: 100% Syrah
Winemaker: Jean-Luc Colombo
Alcohol: 13.50%

Terroir and Vintage Notes
The heart of the Colombo winery is based in Cornas, the smallest appellation in the Rhone Valley. Covering only 325 acres, it is nonetheless highly delineated with incredibly diverse microclimates that make an extraordinary impact on the profile of the wines. With a strong Mediterranean influence, summers here are warm. Ancient vineyards are found mostly on steep, south-facing terraced slopes. Decomposed granite soils and stressed growing conditions greatly contribute to the quintessential quality and character of Cornas wines. Cornas AOC has strict laws. Irrigation is not permitted, and maximum yields are 34 hl/ha. It is one of the few appellations in the world dedicated to Syrah. This wine comes from a single-parcel vineyard, part of the "La Cote" slope. Harvest was one of the latest in years, showing high quality and taking place in mid-October.

Winemaking
Grapes are hand-harvested and de-stemmed. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel tanks.

Aging
The wine is aged for 23 months in oak barrels (1/3 new, 2/3 in one- to three-year-old barrels).

Tasting Notes
Pronounced notes of wild blueberries and violets. An elegant wine with a structured mouthfeel, soft tannins, and persistence. Excellent with beef, wild duck, game, lamb, truffle dishes, stews, and hard cheeses.
[Information provided by Taub Family Selections]

Wine: Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas La Louvee 2013
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 05/31/2016
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: Offers some lovely ripeness, with blueberry compote, plum sauce and melted licorice notes gliding together seamlessly, offset deftly by a hint of chalk that lengthens the finish. A pleasant whiff of tobacco lurks in the background. A wonderful effort for the vintage. [...]

Wine: 2013 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas la Louvee
Score/Rating: 93
Suggested Drinking Window: 2015 - 2030
Review Date: 12/30/2015
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes: The 2013 Cornas la Louvee is gorgeous and has considerable elegance and purity in its cassis, liquid blackberry, licorice and crushed rock-laced bouquet. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, pure, perfectly balanced Cornas that has plenty of tannin, yet also plenty of fruit and mid-palate depth. More mineral driven than the les Ruchets, enjoy this complete, textured and lengthy 2013 anytime over the coming 15 years.

Wine: Jean-Luc Colombo 2013 Cornas La Louvee
Score/Rating: 92
Suggested Drinking Window: 2021 - 2027
Review Date: 01/2016
Reviewed By: Josh Raynolds
Tasting Notes: Inky purple. Deep-pitched aromas of black and blue fruits, dark chocolate, licorice and black pepper, backed by a hint of smokiness. Broad, sweet and open-knit, showing very good intensity to the blackberry liqueur and bitter chocolate flavors. This powerful, concentrated, emphatically fruity Cornas finishes smoky and quite long, with strong thrust and spicy persistence.

Wine: Jean-Luc Colombo, La Louvee, Cornas, Rhone, France, 2013
Score/Rating: 90 - Silver
Review Date: 2016
Tasting Notes: A harmonious wine with a dark berry nose and concentrated palate. Intense black fruits, plums, clove and meaty notes pick up live and smooth tannins leading to dried herbs on a long finish.

Wine: Jean-Luc Colombo, La Louvee 2013 Cornas
Score/Rating: 17/20
Suggested Drinking Window: 2018 - 2028
Review Date: 11/20/2014
Reviewed By: Jancis Robinson
Tasting Notes: Savoury Syrah on the nose with lots of succulence on the palate. Liquorice and tar. Dry finish. (JR)