Much richer and sexier than the 1994 Terres Brulees, and more austere and leaner than its 1995 counterpart, the 1994 Cornas Les Ruchets is a deep ruby-colored, tannic wine with gobs of ripe fruit. It is closed and backward, without the sweet, expansive mid-palate of the 1995. Colombo has become one of the most influential oenologists in the Rhone Valley. For the most part, his influence has been positive. He has pushed his clients to be more aware of sanitary conditions, keep yields at reasonable levels, and, if finances permit, utilize more new oak for the red wines. For those wines that are stable and healthy, he is inclined to advise bottling with minimal fining and/or filtration. His estate wines from Cornas have consistently been among the finest of the appellation. Colombo is also expanding his empire with a line of negociant wines called Les Terroirs du Rhone. These offerings are generally well made.The reviews in this segment deal exclusively with his estate bottled wines.Importer: Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800