Auguste Clape, Cornas 2016

vinous95

Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds

Deep brilliant violet. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits, incense and potpourri, while olive and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Palate-staining cassis, bitter cherry, salty olive, spicecake and violet pastille flavors show superb delineation and a bracing spine of juicy acidity. Closes extremely long and smoky, displaying repeating mineral and floral notes and fine-grained tannins that build steadily.

vinous96

Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds

Tasted as components: #1) La Côte: smoky, spicy and focused on the nose, displaying heady dark fruit preserve, olive and tobacco qualities and a sexy floral overtone. Sweet and energetic on the palate, showing impressively focused blackberry and cherry pie flavors and a touch of cracked pepper. Dusty tannins build slowly on the persistent finish. #2) Sabarotte: lively and sharply focused cherry and dark berry scents, with a sexy floral accent and building minerality. Concentrated but surprisingly lithe, offering powerful cassis and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of exotic spice. Seriously persistent, with solid tannic grip. #3) old vines in Reynard: vibrant black and blue fruit and floral scents, backed by smoky mineral, olive and cola nuances. Palate-staining boysenberry and cherry liqueur flavors show an unlikely delicate touch thanks to a core of zesty acidity. Displays outstanding energy and focus on a strikingly long, mineral-driven finish.

robert_parker97

Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski

For the 2016 Cornas, a couple of the foudres I tasted from were truly amazing, like the Sabarotte, which is imbued with the bloody-meaty essence of Cornas, velvety tannins and the Reynards Vieilles Vignes, replanted after phylloxera, which showed incredible perfumes and complexity.

robert_parker96

Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski

Marked by hints of tar and black pepper on the nose, Clape's 2016 Cornas is earthy and savory, loaded with notes of black olives but with enough blueberries and blackberries to satisfy fans of fruit as well. It's full-bodied, rich and tannic but not tough or hard, with incredible balance. It's so harmonious that it's not overly difficult to drink now, yet it should age gracefully for a couple of decades.

james_suckling98

Reviewed by: James Suckling

Many layers of aromas, complex and spicy with a fragrant array of dark brambly berries, dark plums, dark chocolate. Spices and peppers, as well as graphite-like stony notes. There’s a silky core to the palate with extreme power, all delivered so precisely that appear light and elegant. Sweet spiced-fruit flavors run long and bright, exploding in a spectacular spicy finish. Spends two winters in the cellar to deliver finesse in terms of tannins. Barrel sample.

james_suckling98

Reviewed by: James Suckling

This has deep, smoky notes and a quite tarry edge, too. The dark plums and black fruit pastilles are assertive here. Very succulent and long with freshness and composure. This is a very elegant Cornas. Excellent length. Try from 2023.