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

Plush and ripe, this defies the vintage's typically crisper profile, showing more fig and black currant fruit, with coffee, tar and dark olive notes and a smoky, fleshy finish. Drink now through 2014. 1,300 cases made.??–JM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Cornas Select to Add

Toastier, with cedary components and dark flavors of espresso and black olive. This is very firm, dense and muscular—the essence of concentrated Cornas opening with air to show more floral notes. Hold 10 years or more.——J.C.(4/1/2007)—— 92