2004 Cornas Les Ruchets
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Tasting notes
The 2004 Cornas Les Ruchets, which sees more new oak, comes across as more austere than the Terres Brulees, but it is a bigger wine, although not necessarily better, because the new oak seems to overwhelm the more delicate fruit of this vintage. This dark ruby/purple wine is tannic, backward, and while perhaps more will emerge with aging, I doubt the concentration will carry all the tannin in this wine. It is impressively pure, and it is a relatively big wine for the vintage, but I wouldn’t want to touch it for 4-5 years. The well-known consulting oenologist in the Rhone Valley, Jean-Luc Colombo, has an ever-expanding negociant business for his wines. With the exception of his three estate wines of Cornas, all of the other wines listed are negociant bottlings. He is a talented winemaker and that is evidenced in his whites. Importer: Palm Bay Imports, Boca Raton, Fl; tel. (561) 362-9642
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Deep ruby. Very ripe on the nose, with strong, chocolatey dark berry and cherry aromas accented by dusty espresso and oak spices. Chewy, well-focused black cherry and blackcurrant flavors are supported by gentle tannins. Finishes fleshy and ripe, with impressive length and a sweet suggestion of cherry-cola.
Saturated purple color. Oak spices and jammy blackberry on the nose. Powerful, dense wine that fills the mouth with superripe cassis and blueberry flavors accented by cola and sassafras. The tannins are very fine-grained.
The 2004 Cornas Les Ruchets, which sees more new oak, comes across as more austere than the Terres Brulees, but it is a bigger wine, although not necessarily better, because the new oak seems to overwhelm the more delicate fruit of this vintage. This dark ruby/purple wine is tannic, backward, and while perhaps more will emerge with aging, I doubt the concentration will carry all the tannin in this wine. It is impressively pure, and it is a relatively big wine for the vintage, but I wouldn’t want to touch it for 4-5 years. Apr 2007, www.robertparker.com