Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2020 (Northern Rhone, France) 750ml - [VM 97-98] [DM 97] [JD 97] [WA 95-97+]

Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2020
(Northern Rhone, France) 750ml - [VM 97-98] [DM 97] [JD 97] [WA 95-97+]


$260.00 $198.97 Save $61.03
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VM97 DM97 JD97 WA95
Size
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About the Winery:

In the world of wine, there are many good winegrowers. However, there are only a very select few who are truly great, and Auguste Clape will go down in history as one of the greats. A proud and uncompromising pioneer of fine winemaking in the Northern Rhône, his Syrahs from the cru of Cornas have earned their place among the most celebrated wines of France. 

Domaine Clape is legendary in the Northern Rhône. This world-class estate was the first in Cornas to estate-bottle Syrah and sell it under their own name.

Domaine Clape’s eight hectares of terraced vineyards lay scattered across the Rhone Valley and are rooted into the region’s signature granitic soils. Their Syrah-based wines are produced in a traditional and classic style, known for their full body, spicy fruit flavors, and powerful structure. Their Cornas shows flavors of red and black fruits, game, leather, purple flowers, and olives. A regional classic!


About this Wine:
Clape’s masterpiece is his classic Cornas, precisely blended from five to six cuvées of the oldest vines in the best sites. The backbone comes from Reynard, La Côte and Sabarotte. The old vines here are la Petite Syrah—the old clone considered by many to be the true Syrah—which creates a stunningly deep and complex wine that will develop for decades.

Technical Information

Varietal: 100% Syrah
Vine Age: 40-100 yrs
Soil Type: Granite
Vineyard Area: 4.3 ha

Viticulture & Vinification:

• A selection of the domaine’s oldest vines

• Aged 22 months in 6hL to 12hL foudres

• All wines are harvested by hand, sorted and are not de-stemmed

Ratings & Reviews

97-98 Points - Vinous Media:
“Glass-staining ruby. Intensely perfumed dark berry preserve, violet oil, olive, cured meat and woodsmoke scents show fine definition and vibrant spice- and mineral-driven lift. Offers palate-staining, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry, fruitcake and violet pastille flavors that deepen and open up steadily through the midpalate, while maintaining energy. The strikingly long, penetrating finish features youthfully chewy tannins, a sweet touch of cola and lingering floral and exotic spice qualities. All whole clusters and no new oak, as usual.” – Josh Raynolds (Dec 2022)

97 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"A vibrant, focused and intense style of Cornas, a return to a classic style after the richness of 2018 and the power of 2019. Their Renaissance will be made this year, so both wines will need to be bottled before a more precise evaluation of each blend can be made, but the outlook is good. Whole-bunch fermented in unlined concrete tanks, matured in small old foudres." - Matt Walls (Sep 2021)

97 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"The flagship 2020 Cornas is a beauty! Clearly in the same league as recent top vintages, it has a wild bouquet of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, game, and iron, with some incense and spice thrown in for good measure. It's slightly more round and sexy compared to the more powerful 2019, but it’s perfectly balanced, with ripe tannins and a great finish. This heavenly Cornas will be drinkable in just 3-4 years and evolve for two decades." (12/15/2022)

95-97+ Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"I tasted four different components of the 2020 Cornas from foudre. From 40-year-old vines in La Côte, a medium to full-bodied sample with attractive menthol, red plum and violet notes, ample structure but a bit short (92 - 94). From 50- to 60-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, an earthier, more savory example, with a rich, velvety texture and crisp acids (93 - 95). From 60- to 70-year-old vines in La Côte, a wine that seems to have it all: intense cassis, crushed stone, licorice and black olives, plus amazing richness and length (97 - 99). And finally, from old vines in Reynard, a breathtaking, hauntingly floral rendition marked by purple raspberries and fantastic concentration (98 - 100). The blend should be terrific." – Joe Czerwinski (Jan 2022)