2017 Auguste Clape, Cornas - Cornas - 1 Bottle (0.75L)

75cl bottle of Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2017, label and capsule in excellent condition.

Bottled at the château.

Shipping via UPS.

About the estate: Auguste Clape is not the name of the estate's first ancestor, nor is it the name of the most recent member of the family. It is the name of one of the winemakers who contributed to the renown of Cornas wines. He brought about a true paradigm shift in winemaking, both on his own estate and throughout Cornas. Today, the innovations introduced by Auguste Clape and his wife have been passed down to their descendants, who continue the legacy with great success. The Auguste Clape estate was established in the 19th century but was initially dedicated to mixed farming. Auguste Clape, husband of the owners' daughter, arrived at the family estate in 1949, and together they decided to devote themselves to winemaking. At that time, they owned only four hectares of vines and decided to create a wine market, which encouraged them to begin bottling at the estate in 1955. Little by little, their reputation and that of their wines grew, extending beyond France. Other crops were then gradually abandoned to focus solely on the vineyard. In 1988, Auguste Clape welcomed his son into the business. His son had trained with some of the finest estates in the South of France, such as Domaine Tempier (Bandol) and Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe (Châteauneuf-du-Pape).

Together, they adopted sustainable viticulture inspired by the biodynamic principles already being developed: the use of sulfur and copper to treat the vines, manual harvesting, and traditional, plot-by-plot winemaking. The estate embraces a traditional approach to the Cornas appellation, notably through extended aging in old oak casks for most of its wines, particularly its top cuvées.

But in July 2018, Auguste Clape, a prominent figure in the appellation, passed away, passing the torch to his son Pierre and grandson Olivier, who joined them in 2002. Today, they cultivate just over 8 hectares of Syrah (out of more than 7 hectares), Roussanne, and Marsanne, with vines averaging around forty years old. The estate boasts a new winery equipped with refrigeration units to maintain stable wine temperatures. This limited production is highly sought after by connoisseurs for its elegant character, power, complexity, and remarkable balance. Thanks to the quality of the terroir and the winemaking techniques, the wines possess impressive aging potential.

About the wine: Auguste Clape's Cornas is one of the appellation's finest, boasting richness, depth, and tremendous aging potential. Whole-cluster fermentation and aging in old oak casks preserve the understated character of the Cornas terroir.