4304931_1.jpg
  • 90

2019 Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Amis

Northern Rhone, FRANCE
$84. 99
Bottle
$1019.88 Dozen
ABV: 13%
Closure: Cork

Auguste Clape first came to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vineyards in the appellation. Today his son, Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate, which is considered to be the benchmark producer in the region. They farm 5.38 acres of Cornas including a resounding 3 hectares on the granitic soils of what is the finest plot in Cornas - Reynards. An “old-style” producer with no destemming, wild yeast ferments that take place in concrete vats and aging in older, neutral foudres for 20 months before bottling without filtration. If you seek a traditional Syrah from the sun-drenched, terraced slopes of the Northern Rhône, the stunning wines of Auguste Clape should be at the top of your list.

While Le Vin des Amis may be the entry point for the Domaine, it's no less serious and age worthy than their other bottlings. Sourced from various plots of Syrah vineyards situated between the village of Cornas and the Rhone river, the average vine age is 40 years. Le Vin des Amis is fermented and aged in cement tanks before spending two months in oak foudres prior to bottling.

Other Reviews....
Not quite as seductively aromatic as the 2020 version, the 2019 Vin de France Le Vin des Amis still boasts great fruit expression. Cassis and black olive notes dominate this medium to full-bodied effort. Quite richly textured and concentrated, it should drink well through at least 2027. Drink 2021 - 2027.
90 points
Joe Czerwinski - Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)