Cornas, Domaine Auguste Clape 2011

The flagship wine, the 2011 Cornas exhibits classic notes of blackberries, cassis, camphor, incense, violets and hints of forest floor as well as steak tartare, a sensational texture, a full-bodied opulence, and terrific richness. This remarkable Cornas can be drunk early or cellared for 15-20 years.

Moving to the current releases that are in bottle, the 2011 Cornas belies the vintage's forward, mid-weight stereotype with its massive, deep and layer profile. Possessing brilliant minerality, as well as notions of dry aged beef, cracked pepper, forest floor and sweet black currants, this full-bodied beauty has a stacked mid-palate, big structure and masses of sweet tannin on the finish. The minerality is really something here and this is reminiscent of filling your mouth with granite pebbles. It's a resounding success in the vintage and will deliver the goods for upwards of two decades.