Cornas La Louvee

Cornas La Louvée

  • Cornas AOC, 
  • Rhône, 
  • france

Latest Awards

  • 94 points Vinous , December 2022
  • 95 points James Suckling , April 2022
Background

Jean-Luc Colombo has been a renowned enologist in the Rhône Valley since the early 1980s. His consultations at prestigious estates across the Rhône quickly earned him a reputation for helping produce incredible expressions of this rugged terroir. But his greatest contribution to the wine world is the exceptional wines he crafts alongside his wife, Anne, and daughter, Laure. The Cornas-based Colombo winery has earned impressive international recognition bringing modern viticultural practices to the region — and for creating beautifully concentrated, balanced, and fresh styles of syrah. Living among their vineyards and wetlands, the family have been committed to sustainable farming, achieving organic certification for their estate vineyards from Ecocert in 2016.

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. La Louvée (The She-Wolf) is a single vineyard 2 acre parcel within La Cote with 80-year-old+ vines with 30° slope and a yield 22 hl/ha. The vineyard has been certified organic by Ecocert since 2016.

Winemaking & Aging

Grapes are hand-harvested and de-stemmed. Fermentation takes places in stainless steel tanks. The wine is aged for 22 months in French oak barrels (15% in new oak, 85% in one- to three-year old barrels). The wine is bottled unfiltered and is vegan.

Tasting Notes

A concentrated notes showing notes of incense, black pepper with a slight meaty touch. On the palate, the tannins are supple and well-integrated layered with ripe black fruit.

95
Points

This is awash in dark açaí berry, blueberry and blackberry puree flavors, with sweet tapenade, tobacco and floral notes checking in as well. Lush overall, but with ample buried grip and a bolt of iron on the finish. Best from 2024 through 2038. —J.M.

Wine Spectator - February 2022

95
Points

The Black-fruit aromas of this stunning Cornas are enveloping, but there isn't the slightest hint of overripeness. So sophisticated and silky, this glides over your palate, thanks to the nearly perfect integration of tannins, fruit and generous body. Very long and refined finish that pulls your hand inexorably back to the glass. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. – J.S.

James Suckling - April 2022

94
Points

The 2019 Cornas la Louvee reveals hints of toasty oak on the nose, accenting ripe cassis flavors. It's full-bodied, rich and concentrated, yet never seems heavy or overdone, finishing with flourishes of blueberries and dried spices on the long, long finish. - J.C.

Wine Advocate - January 2022

94
Points

Saturated magenta. Highly perfumed black and blue fruit, floral and smoky mineral scents, along with suggestions of cola and exotic spices. Appealingly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering sappy kirsch, boysenberry, salty olive and spicecake flavors that show sharp delineation and mineral cut. Polished tannins frame a mineral-accented finish that features lingering floral and spice notes. This is quite an elegant Cornas, especially in the context of the vintage. 20% new oak. -J.R.

Vinous - December 2022

Appellation

Cornas AOC

grape varieties

100% Syrah

Sizes

750ml

technical details
  • ABV: 14.5%
  • Closure: Cork
  • Vegan
winemaker

Jean-Luc Colombo

Jean-Luc Colombo

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