Wine Advisor
Auguste Clape, Cornas 2000
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A lovely, rustic, quintessential Auguste Clape nose, as if inhaling a wine atop a stack of hay bales in a barn. The palate is more approachable than I expected, more medium- than full-bodied with blackberry leaf, leather, mushroom and undergrowth. Typically reserved on the tannic finish. Very fine. Tasted May 2006.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Clape's 2000 Cornas stands out as one of the appellation's finest efforts. It boasts an opaque purple color as well as a strikingly pure bouquet of blackberry liqueur with notions of oak (from its aging in ancient barriques and foudres), full body, sweet tannin, low acidity, and concentrated, layered flavors. Unlike many northern Rhone producers, Clape has achieved a serious mid-palate in his 2000. This effort is reminiscent of the 1985 (which was still drinking terrifically in summer, 2001). Anticipated maturity: 2003-2016. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of the finest efforts of the vintage, the 2000 Cornas boasts an opaque purple color as well as a sumptuously sweet, perfumed nose of white flowers, creme de cassis, melted licorice, and hints of roasted earth and meat. This jammy, medium to full-bodied 2000 is not a blockbuster, but is floral, elegant, and supple-textured. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. There is nothing wrong with a case of Clape! As I have been writing for several decades, Auguste Clape and his son, Pierre-Marie, represent the gold standard for classic Cornas. Readers lucky enough to have access to his importer’s portfolio (Kermit Lynch) should always check out his inexpensive Cotes du Rhone as well as his vin de pays called Le Vin des Amis. Both are noteworthy introductions to what can be found in his Cornas cuvees. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524
About the Producer
Domaine Auguste Clape is located in the Rhone Valley region of France. The estate was founded by the Clape Family and is now run by Pierre-Marie Clape and Oliver Clape. Château Auguste Clapa now has 8 hectares of vineyards, all on terraces within the Colnas appellation. Due to the steep terrain of the vineyards, plantation management is carried out by hand. There are no formal rules for the vineyard, but rather the most traditional planting patterns, based on intuition, experience and common sense. The vineyard soil is mainly granite and clay, and the main grape varieties are Syrah and Marsanne, with an average vine age of 40 years. The grapes are hand-picked and carefully selected before being used in the production of the wines. The must for the Domaine Auguste Clape Saint-Peray Blanc is fermented in concrete tanks and, after fermentation, the wine is matured in stainless steel tanks for 8 months. The must for the red wines is fermented in large wooden vats and the length of fermentation is usually 12 days. Of these, the Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas and the Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance are matured for 22 months in 600 litre or 1,200 litre vats. The Domaine Auguste Clape Cote du Rhone and the Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Aims are matured for 6 months in concrete tanks and large wooden barrels respectively.
