2007 Auguste Clape, Cornas 1x750ml

Vinous 93

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. [Josh Raynolds, 01/01/2010]

Robert Parker 91

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. (Not yet released) 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. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524 [Robert M. Parker, Jr., 29/04/2009]

Anticipated maturity: 2009-2024