Cornas, Domaine Auguste Clape 2016

Le fruit mûr évoque un coulis de fruits noirs. L'expression est juteuse et fraîche, avec des notes épicées qui amènent de la complexité, une pointe de graphite qui confère au vin de la profondeur. La bouche ample associe une matière concentrée et une sensation de volupté. La vendange entière est parfaitement intégrée, l'ensemble brille par son harmonie.

Bacon, prune, black cherry. Super-fine but very firm tannins, finishing with beef stock, game and a ferrous aroma. So lengthy! The benchmark.

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.

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.