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Buy OnlineIn the world of wine, there are many good winegrowers. However, there are only a very select few who are truly great, and Auguste Clape will go down in history as one of the greats. A proud and uncompromising pioneer of fine winemaking in the Northern Rhône, his Syrahs from the cru of Cornas have earned their place among the most celebrated wines of France. The Clapes have been vignerons for many generations, but the infamous grower strikes of 1906 and 1907 forced Auguste's grandfather out of the Languedoc and into the Northern Rhône to start anew from practically nothing. The Clapes rebuilt their fortunes, terrace by terrace, along the steep, western slopes of the Rhône River. Without pretense or fanfare, Auguste, the former mayor of Cornas, was a stately picture of grace and magnanimity—a no-nonsense wise man who never rested on his laurels and sought to better himself and his wines each year until his passing in 2018 at the age of 93. Today, his son, Pierre-Marie, and grandson, Olivier, carry on his legacy with honour and integrity.
Made from two parcels: one is Syrah planted within Saint-Péray AOC, which is classified as Côtes du Rhône; the second is at the bottom of a slope just beneath the boundary of Cornas AOC, level with the village of Cornas. In some years, a small amount (around 2%) of press wine from young-vine Cornas is added. Fermented and aged in cement tanks with part of the wine passing briefly in foudres.
93/100 James Suckling, May 2024 (2022 Vintage)
"A serious, well-crafted and lively Cotes-du-Rhone that shows notes of wild berries, dried herbs and baking spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Velvety texture on the palate with bright acidity. So crunchy, vivid and transparent, with a flavourful and spicy finish that has excellent length. Drink or hold."
Alistair Cooper MW, JancisRobinson.com, September 2023 (2022 Vintage)
"A wild nose with some meatiness and spice. Lots of freshness here, too. The tannins are marked yet fine. This is rich and powerful but certainly not over the top – youthful, juicy and lively."
90/100 Matt Walls, Decanter UK (2022 Vintage)
"More classically Cornas in style compared to the domaine’s Vin des Amis cuvée this year, it's quite animal in style. Full-bodied, with marked acidity and tight tannins. Explosively flavoursome but not as long on the finish as some years."
