Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2017

The small Domaine Clape is one of the greatest estates of the Northern Rhone, and certainly the finest on Cornas; a precipitous amphitheatre of steeply terraced Syrah vines. The wines are made from several small parcels of old vines, whole bunch fermented and aged for up to 2 years in large oval old oak barrels. This wine needs some time, or a few hours in a decanter. The price is likely to climb sharply year on year. "Lastly, the 2017 Cornas showed incredibly well. A great vintage for the Northern Rhône, it has textbook aromas and flavors. Due to yields, no Renaissance cuvée was produced, so readers need to grab bottles of this while they can. Revealing a deep purple color as well a sweet nose of dark fruits, currants, ground pepper, bloody meat, and iron, the 2017 hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a powerful, dense mid-palate, huge minerality, and enough tannins to warrant 7-8 years of bottle age." 95+/100, Jeb Dunnuck, Vinous