2023 Auguste Clape, Cornas

Purple fruits, violets, and spice all emerge from the 2023 Cornas, another classic Cornas in the vintage. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shows ripe tannins and impressive concentration, with a lively, fresher, very ultra-classic style. This beautiful Cornas will offer some accessibility yet also evolve gracefully for at least two decades. This is another beautiful lineup from the Clape family. The 2023s are supple and upfront, with terrific depth of fruit. Due to tiny yields, no Renaissance cuvée was produced in 2022, and the Grand Vin is brilliant stuff, with a sunny yet concentrated, structured style that reminds me of the estate's 2017. These are beautiful, classic Cornas that readers will love. In addition, don't miss their Saint-Péray, a fresher, crisp, absolutely delicious white.

I tasted various barrel samples that will compose the 2023 Cornas that’s shaping up to be distinctively old-school, refreshing and, as always, rustic. Fresh violet, leather, dried meat, black cherry, grapefruit, stemminess and graphite all make an appearance. Given its forward profile, I suspect the 2023 will start showing well around the same time as the 2022. There’s an acidity-driven energy to this infant 2023 that makes me look forward to tasting the bottled version next year.

Cask samples that will make up the eventual blend. Sample 1: Old vines (1910–15) planted at the bottom of the slope. Structured, with a tight, firm feel to the tannins. Sample 2: Petite Côte (45-year-old vines). Greater depth of fruit, with the tannins integrated and well in place. Sample 3: Sabarotte (50/60-year-old-vines) . Aromatically more complex, the tannins firm and linear, giving plenty of drive. Sample 4: La Côte (70-year-old-vines) . Closed at present and in need of racking.  (JL)