Auguste Clape Cuvee Renaissance Cornas 2018
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Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
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Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Monsieur Clape's Cornas is systematically considered the best in the appellation, constantly attaining the most amazing levels of excellence. There is always an extremely deep purple, almost black color that exudes a never-ending array of rich complex aromas of dried fruits, licorice, spice and pepper. The sheer power and concentration of the wine on the palate is overwhelming. The attack is sensational, followed with an incredible volume of extract that saturates the palate in rich, concentrated fruity tannins that last through a magnificently long, stunning finish. These wines need at least 5 or 6 years in bottle before they will open up, but areat their best after 10 years.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the Cornas releases, all of which were tasted from foudre and tank, the 2018 Cornas Renaissance will be a mix of different terroirs and young and older vines. All the samples had distinct yet certainly classic Clape character, with vibrant blue and black fruits, pepper, and ample gaminess. There are enough tannins here to warrant short-term cellaring, but it should keep for 15+ years.
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
Decanter
I like the fresh herbal elements on the nose here, it lifts the aromatics. There's a liquorice and menthol edge to the blackcurrant fruit. Medium-bodied, quite fluid on the palate but has real intensity and bite. The tannins are ripe and round but assertive. Has a good sense of depth and resonance.Really delicious now, I would drink this straight away, but will no doubt age well. Drink now, or from 2026.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2018 Cornas Renaissance shows less of the vintage's sunbaked character than you might expect, boasting floral notes and fresh red plum fruit. It's medium to full-bodied, silky in feel and even a touch crisp on the long finish.It should be reasonably long lived. Best After 2023
Other Vintages
2020-
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb
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Dunnuck
Jeb -
Parker
Robert
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Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
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Parker
Robert
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. The Clapes have been vignerons for many generations, but the infamous grower strikes of 1906 and 1907 forced Auguste's grandfather out of the Languedoc and into the Northern Rhône to start anew from practically nothing. The Clapes rebuilt their fortunes, terrace by terrace, along the steep, western slopes of the Rhône River. Without pretense or fanfare, Auguste, the former mayor of Cornas, was a stately picture of grace and magnanimity—a no-nonsense wise man who never rested on his laurels and sought to better himself and his wines each year until his passing in 2018 at the age of 93. Today, his son, Pierre-Marie, and grandson, Olivier, carry on his legacy with honor and integrity.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Distinguished as a fine Syrah producing zone since the 18th century, Cornas, like Cote Rotie, is made up of vineyards covering steep and hard-to-work, granite terraces. As a result the region’s wines fell out of favor during the mid 20th century when the global market was more focused on bulk wines and vineyards that yielded high quantities. It wasn’t until the 1980s when a group of energetic young winemakers reestablished the integrity of these precipitous terraces and also began making an ultra-modern style of Syrah. The new style didn’t need a decade before it was drinkable and could reach the consumer faster than the region’s traditional wines. Given the new quality coming out of the zone, its popularity once again soared and today a good Cornas can easily challenge many of those from Hermitage. Characteristics of Syrah from Cornas include teeth-staining flavors of blackberry jam, plum, pepper, violets, smoked game, charcoal, chalk dust and smoke.