2020 Domaine A. Clape Clape Côtes du Rhône (Syrah), FRANCE. 750ml
A bit more tannic and structured than the Le Vin des Amis, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone comes from a vineyard just on the other side of the road from Cornas—the soil is a bit stonier here than closer to the river, and the wine sees a little bit of time in foudre. Bottled the day before my visit, I found it less expressive on the nose than the Le Vin des Amis, but it was still imbued with ample cherry fruit and possessing a ripe, silky feel on the medium-bodied palate. Score: 89+ Drink Date: 2021 – 2028, January 2022 Week 3, The Wine Advocate, Joe Czerwinski
Quite some wet-earth character and a touch of graphite on the nose (from slight reduction), but also brimming with ripe blackberry fruit. The healthy tannins give this some drive and keep the finish very straight. From syrah vines growing between the Cornas and St.-Peray appellations. Drink or hold. Score: 92, Thursday April 7th 2022, James Suckling
