| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Northern Rhône > Cornas |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A bigger wine, the 2007 Cornas exhibits notes of scorched earth, new saddle leather, blackberries, cassis, figs, and tobacco leaf. Luscious by Clape's standards, it should age nicely for 15 years.
The master of Cornas, this estate continues to fashion a beautiful array of wines. With his son, Pierre-Marie, in charge, Auguste Clape enjoys a well-deserved retirement. In addition to outstanding Cornas, Clape also produces a very good Cotes du Rhone and Vin de Pays, both made from fruit grown just outside the Cornas appellation. 2007 is a slightly lighter vintage in Cornas than 2006, but the sweetness of the tannins, and the precociousness of the wines make the 2007 Cornas much more approachable than usual.
Wild and very perfumed on the nose, with lavender, smoked meat, black olive, and pepper, all supported by pure dark fruits, the 2007 Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas shines in the vintage, displaying beautiful purity of fruit, racy acidity, and striking focus and precision. More impressive for its aromatics and poise than its back end depth and structure, I would drink bottles over the coming 10 to 12 years.
This is top of the line Rhone. Clape is a lengendary producer. Love the blackberry and Cameroon blackpepper, with hints of fresh herbs. Meat too. Black olives. Full bodied, with soft and round tannins and plenty of fruit. Very long and intense on the finish.
Vivid ruby. Highly expressive bouquet of fresh raspberry, cherry, violet and black olive, with slow-building minerality. More lively and precise than the Renaissance, with strong mineral cut to the expansive red fruit flavors. Silky tannins arrive with air and add grip to the long, spicy, impressively pure finish. This wine picked up a lot of richness in the glass but maintained vibrancy and clarity.
