2016 Auguste Clape, Cornas - Rhône, Cornas - 1 Bouteille (0,75 l)

One 75cl bottle of Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2016; label and capsule in excellent condition.

Estate-bottled.

Shipped via UPS.

96/100 Robert Parker

About the estate
Auguste Clape is neither the name of the estate's first ancestor nor that of the family's most recent generation. Rather, it is the name of a winemaker who played a pivotal role in establishing the renown of Cornas wines. He brought about a genuine paradigm shift in winemaking practices, both at his own estate and across the Cornas appellation. Today, the innovations introduced by Auguste Clape and his wife have been passed down to their descendants, who continue to uphold the legacy with distinction.
The Auguste Clape estate was founded in the 19th century but was originally dedicated to mixed farming. Auguste Clape—who married the owners' daughter—arrived at the family estate in 1949, and the couple decided to focus entirely on wine. At the time, they held just four hectares of vines; they decided to develop a market for their wine, a move that encouraged them to begin estate-bottling in 1955. Gradually, their reputation—and that of their wines—grew, extending well beyond France. Other crops were progressively abandoned to allow for a full focus on viticulture. In 1988, Auguste Clape welcomed his son into the business. The son had honed his skills alongside some of the greatest names in southern France, such as Domaine Tempier (Bandol) and Vieux Télégraphe (Châteauneuf-du-Pape).
Together, they adopted sustainable farming practices inspired by biodynamic principles—which had already been tentatively explored—including the use of sulfur and copper to treat the vines, manual harvesting, and traditional plot-by-plot vinification. The estate embraces a traditional approach to the Cornas appellation, notably through the long aging periods in old large oak casks (*foudres*) used for most of its wines—especially the flagship cuvées.
In July 2018, Auguste Clape—a legendary figure of the appellation—passed away, handing the reins to his son Pierre and his grandson Olivier, who had joined the estate in 2002. Today, they cultivate just over 8 hectares of vines—predominantly Syrah, alongside Roussanne and Marsanne—with an average age of around forty years. The estate features a modern winery equipped with cooling systems to ensure stable wine temperatures.
Production is limited, and the wines are highly sought after by enthusiasts for their distinctive character, power, complexity, and remarkable balance. Thanks to the quality of the terroir and the aging process, the wines possess impressive aging potential.

About the cuvée
Auguste Clape’s Cornas is one of the appellation’s finest wines, offering richness, depth, and tremendous aging potential. Whole-cluster vinification and aging in old large oak casks help preserve the authentic expression of the Cornas terroir.