France • Rhône Valley • Cornas • Syrah • Domaine Auguste Clape • 2018 • 75 cl

Cornas 2018 – Domaine Auguste Clape

A Cornas of great character, this 2018 from Auguste Clape combines depth, tension, and authenticity. Still youthful and firmly structured, it offers a classical and intensely mineral interpretation of the appellation, in a style that is both wild, noble, and deeply rooted in its terroir.

Terroir & Philosophy

An undisputed benchmark of Cornas, Domaine Auguste Clape has embodied a traditional and exacting vision of the Northern Rhône for decades. The wine comes from steep granite slopes, where Syrah expresses the depth, tension, and mineral character that define the appellation at its highest level.

True to the estate’s philosophy, vinification relies on whole-cluster fermentation and parcel-by-parcel winemaking, followed by extended ageing in old foudres and large casks. This approach preserves purity, site expression, and structure, resulting in wines built more for ageing and authenticity than for immediate charm.

The 2018 vintage, warm yet well handled, delivers a particularly serious expression of Cornas. More architectural than demonstrative, it combines ripeness, inner freshness, and mineral intensity within a structure that is still unfolding.

Tasting Notes

Nose:
Deep and distinctive, with aromas of dark fruit, black olive, violet, spice, and smoke, supported by a mineral and faintly sanguine character typical of great Cornas.

Palate:
Dense, energetic, and structured, with ample substance supported by youthful yet high-quality tannins. The wine remains lifted and precise, with no heaviness, in a style that is powerful, upright, and deeply authentic.

Finish:
Long, persistent, and intensely mineral, marked by spice, dark fruit, and a noble austerity. A serious wine for long ageing, entirely faithful to the classical Clape style.