Cornas Syrah

The 2021 Cornas is a solid red that’s concentrated and elegant, offering crushed violet, red plum, red cherry and iodine layers paired with stemmy gradations. The medium-bodied 2021 concludes with wonderful freshness on the savory finish. It shouldn’t take long to come around, something that cannot be said for the surrounding vintages. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)

The full-bodied 2020 Cornas is a wild thing. Concentrated and expressive, it combines all the elements that Clape-enthusiasts rave about: a juicy core of fruit, ferrous gradations, crushed flowers, meaty undertones, rustic funkiness and an herbal edge. Remarkably round tannins lend solid structure to the delicious 2020, an instant classic that shows excellent persistence on the savory finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)

As Noël Verset started to divest in his vines, there were several producers who came away with some real treasures. The most famous was Franck Balthazar who was able to purchase Verset’s prized holdings in Chaillots. Perhaps less known is Auguste Clape also purchased some ex-Verset vines in the Sabarotte lieu-dit. The 1997 Clape pours a much deeper color, nearly opaque purple. Dense brambles with some black licorice, lavender pastilles and minerals. Somewhat reticent even at 25+ years old. The venison, umami bomb, potato and pearl onion helped coax this Clape from slumber though. Drinking well now but easily has the stuffing to see 2037 and possibly beyond.

Bright medium ruby color!! Brett, black olives, black pepper, FRESH red and black fruits, jerky, fruit wrapped acidity and tannins. Called it 1996 Cote Rotie.

My very first A. Clape CORNAS IS AMAZING

Stolid stuff. Still a bit surly initially but releases a little with an hour of air. A bit of raspberry and blackberry fruit with plentiful earth, leather, brine and smoke. Tbh a bit underwhelming and not the first bottle of old school Cornas I’ve felt that way about. These steadfastly traditional wines take forever to come around and not sure there’s enough excitement or pleasure here to justify the wait. Allemand of course is in a different category

The depth and complexity of this wine from “rustic” Cornas is full of blueberry, smoke, black pepper, great acid, and tannins, but not real gripper..super well balanced..

Dark, stewed aromas. Silky attack, bright cranberry red mid palate. Tannins still a bit tense between fruit and oak. A little VA accentuating the difference. Lingers nicely. Food adds great depth.

I had heard recent vintages of Clape are much more approachable young and this 2016 proved that notion. So juicy, expressive and totally open for business.

Wow! Opens up quickly right out of the bottle. Loads of juniper spice and black olive. Tannins have totally mellowed out. Very elegant.