Auguste Clape " Le Vin des Amis" 2024

In Short

A Syrah from Cornas with dark cherry, white pepper, and mineral smoke, built for aging with fine tannins and a savory finish.

Quick Facts

• Region: Cornas, Rhône Valley
• Variety: Syrah
• Style: Medium-bodied red
• Best For: Dinner, cellaring

Why We Stock It

Auguste Clape's Le Vin des Amis offers the intensity and structure Cornas is known for at a more approachable price than the estate's flagship bottlings. The 2024 shows the region's signature combination of ripe dark fruit and mineral grip, built to drink well over the next decade without demanding immediate attention.

Tasting Profile

This is a focused, mineral-edged Syrah that balances ripeness with savory restraint.

• Aroma: Blackberry and plum with white pepper and smoky minerality
• Palate: Dark cherry and licorice with fine structure and peppery spice
• Structure & Finish: Medium body, fine tannins, savory finish with good length

Winemaking

The wine is made in the traditional Cornas manner, fermented and aged to bring out the site's characteristic mineral character alongside ripe fruit. Specifics of vessel and aging time are not publicly detailed for this bottling.

Serving & Pairing

Serve at 62 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. No decanting is needed, though the wine will open with a few minutes of air. Pair it with grilled lamb chops or a beef stew to match its peppery structure, or with charcuterie and aged cheese for something simpler. The wine's mineral edge cuts through rich fats and its tannins frame savory umami flavors.

The Estate

Auguste Clape is a small, family-run grower in Cornas who works vineyard sites in the appellation with traditional methods. The estate is known for low-intervention winemaking that lets the steep, rocky terroir shape the final wine.

Terroir

Cornas sits in the northern Rhône on steep granite slopes that face south and east. The granite soils are poor but mineral-rich, and the continental climate produces Syrah with concentrated dark fruit and a signature peppery spice. This exposure and soil composition give the wine its mineral precision and tense structure.