Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas "Renaissance" 2023

In Short

A powerful Cornas Syrah with dark cherry, licorice, and white pepper, built for the cellar with firm structure and mineral grip.

Quick Facts

• Region: Cornas, Rhône Valley
• Variety: Syrah
• Style: Full-bodied red
• Best For: Cellaring, special occasions

Why We Stock It

Domaine Auguste Clape is one of Cornas' defining producers, and this wine shows why the appellation commands respect among serious drinkers. The Renaissance bottling is dense and mineral-driven, built on Syrah's ability to age gracefully for two decades or more. At this price point, it rewards patience and offers genuine complexity rather than immediate fruit.

Tasting Profile

A structured, mineral-edged expression of northern Rhône Syrah that demands time in the cellar.

• Aroma: Blackberry, plum, white pepper, mineral
• Palate: Dark cherry, licorice, smoky earth, concentrated
• Structure & Finish: Firm tannins, long finish, elegant grip, lingering spice

Winemaking

The wine is made from Syrah grown on the steep slopes of Cornas and fermented using traditional Rhône methods. Clape works with long skin contact to extract tannin and color, then ages the wine in a mix of neutral vessels and older barrel to preserve the wine's mineral character without new oak influence.

Serving & Pairing

Serve at 62-65 degrees Fahrenheit; decanting for 45 minutes to an hour will soften the tannins in youth. This wine is best with rich, savory dishes: beef with peppercorn sauce, lamb with herbs, or aged hard cheeses. It will also reward a simple plate of roasted mushrooms and garlic, where its mineral edge and spice come through clearly.

The Estate

Auguste Clape is a small, family-run domaine in Cornas with a reputation for serious, unapologetic Syrah. The producer works sustainably on steep vineyard parcels and makes wine with minimal intervention, letting the site and the vintage speak.

Terroir

Cornas sits on the right bank of the Rhône, south of Hermitage, where steep granite and schist slopes face south and southwest. The warm, continental climate and old vines on difficult terrain produce Syrah of real depth and mineral precision. The wine carries the appellation's signature black pepper spice and dense structure, shaped by the demanding vineyard work required to farm these slopes.