A. Clape - Cornas Renaissance 2019
James Suckling: 94 Points
Big smoke and black-pepper nose with some dried Mediterranean herbs. Bold and seriously structured, the tannins keeping the alcohol well in the background, this is a weighty Cornas with quite soft acidity that triumphs over what could be limiting factors, thanks to the beauty of the damson-plum and wild-berry fruit. Drink or hold.
Jeb Dunnuck: 93-95 Points
Neither of the 2019 Cornas had been bottled at the time of my trip through the region. The 2019 Cornas Renaissance is well worth seeking out, and despite being the entry level Cornas for this family, it tastes like most estates’ top releases. Beautiful red and blue fruits, bouquet garni, iron, and peppery notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, pure, seamless Cornas that should benefit from just short-term cellaring and have 15 years or more of prime drinking.
Wine Advocate: 92-94 Points
Even the "early-drinking" 2019 Cornas Renaissance needs some time in the cellar. It's full-bodied, dense and tannic, with notes of horse liniment and cassis, plus savory undertones of black olive. Rich, velvety textured and long on the finish, it looks to be a solid effort. I met Olivier Clape in the new grape reception area across the road from the family's cellars, where a small amount of Saint-Péray was being processed. They now have a whole hectare in that appellation, a blend of 80% Marsanne and 20% Roussanne. Harvest had just started here on September 15, so there wasn't yet much else new in the winery. We went back across the road into the cellars for tasting among the old foudres. The 2020 wines surprised me for their concentration and balance. "It was a very early start to the vintage, one of the earliest," said Olivier. With yields down 20% and hot daytime temperatures in July and August, harvest began on August 24, even earlier than in 2003. According to Clape, who worked harvests with Bruce Neyers in California (2006) and Hätsch Kalberer at Fromm in New Zealand (2009), the balance is due to the cool nights, which meant the grapes retained more acidity than in other hot years. After tasting the 2019s and 2018s, we leapt back in time to try the 2011, which Olivier described as "a vintage everyone forgot. A big crop, but good acidity. Very fine." The bottle we tried was certainly drinking well, as was the even more impressive 2001—20 years after the vintage. (WK)
Vinous Media: 92-94 Points
Intensely perfumed, mineral-driven dark fruit and violet scents, along with a smoky element and a hint of cured tobacco. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering lively cassis, cherry preserve and floral pastille flavors and a hint of dark chocolate. Closes very long and spicy, with a repeating cherry note and steadily building tannins. (JR)
