Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance, Rhone, France 2023

Cornas “Renaissance” 2023 is the domaine’s more approachable cuvée from Cornas, made primarily from younger Syrah vines across the estate’s steep granite terraces in the Northern Rhône. It is crafted in the same traditional style as the grand Cornas whole cluster fermentation with native yeasts and long aging in large neutral foudres but is designed to show a more immediate, fruit-driven expression of the appellation. The 2023 vintage shows dark berry fruit, violets, pepper, and savory olive and smoked-meat notes, with firm but fine tannins and a fresh, energetic structure. While it is more open and accessible in youth than the flagship Cornas, it still carries the hallmark Clape seriousness and can age gracefully for a decade or more, gaining complexity and earthy depth over time.

"Still resting in foudre and scheduled to be bottled in November, the 2023 Cornas Renaissance shows a ripe, forward, supple, medium-bodied style. It offers classic red, blue, and black fruits with violet and peppery nuances, good balance, and outstanding length. This classic, undoubtedly outstanding effort will shine for 10-15 years." Jeb Dunnuck 91-93