About this wine
Cornas Renaissance is the second cuvée from the legendary Domaine Auguste Clape, crafted primarily from the estate's younger Syrah vines (up to roughly 30 years old). It benefits from the same meticulous, traditional winemaking as the flagship Cornas—100% whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts and aging in old foudres—but is designed to be more approachable in its youth. The wine displays the classic, rugged elegance of Cornas terroir: intense aromas of black fruit, black olive, violets, and spice, supported by a firm yet refined tannic structure. It remains a benchmark for Northern Rhône Syrah, capturing the granite-driven essence of the appellation with real depth and aging potential.
A powerful, authentic Northern Rhône red that rewards patience — decanting for 1-2 hours before serving is highly recommended.
Sommelier's Note
"This is Clape's Cornas in a more youthful register — the same granite-driven power, just easier to approach a few years earlier."
Food Pairings
Pairs exceptionally well with gamey meats, braised dishes, grilled steak, and dishes featuring black olives or earthy herbs.
When to drink it
Special dinners featuring red meat, or a centerpiece for a serious Syrah tasting.
Specs
- Grape Varieties
- Syrah
- Style
- Red
- Alcohol
- 12.3%
- Price Range
- $110-160 (US retail reference; not a confirmed Japan market price)
Terroir & Winemaking
100% Syrah sourced from younger vines (up to roughly 30 years old) on the granite slopes of Cornas. Vinified with 100% whole-cluster fermentation using native yeasts, then aged for approximately 18-22 months in old 600-1200L foudres. Bottled unfiltered.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How is Cornas Renaissance different from the flagship Cornas?
- It comes primarily from younger vines (up to around 30 years old) rather than the estate's oldest parcels, making it more approachable in its youth while sharing the same winemaking process.
- What does it taste like?
- Intense black fruit, black olive, violet, and spice, with a firm but refined tannic structure and a distinct granite minerality.
- When is the best time to drink it?
- It can be enjoyed within 5-8 years of the vintage but has the structure to age gracefully for 10-15 years or more.
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Talk to the SommelierMore wines from this producer
オーギュスト・クラプ コルナス
Auguste Clape Cornas
RedSyrah
Auguste Clape is widely regarded as the benchmark producer of Cornas, a legendary estate that defined the appellation's reputation for power, longevity, and purity. The flagship Cornas cuvée is crafted from 100% Syrah grown on the steep, granite-rich slopes of the Northern Rhône. Known for its uncompromising traditional approach, the estate utilizes whole-cluster fermentation and aging in old oak foudres. The resulting wine is intensely structured, offering profound notes of black fruit, smoked meat, violets, and crushed granite, requiring significant bottle age to reveal its true complexity.
コート・デュ・ローヌ
Côtes du Rhône
RedSyrah
Created in the 1990s, Auguste Clape's Côtes du Rhône is a regional-appellation wine sourced from vineyards near Saint-Péray, just outside the Cornas boundary. Despite its modest appellation status, it is made with the same uncompromising, traditional philosophy as the estate's Cornas: 100% Syrah, whole-cluster fermentation in concrete vats, and aging in old oak. The result is a pure, rugged, mineral-driven red with black fruit, violet, and black pepper aromas, firm tannins, and vibrant acidity — widely regarded as punching well above its appellation.
ル・ヴァン・デ・ザミ
Le Vin des Amis
RedSyrah
Le Vin des Amis is a Vin de France bottling from Auguste Clape, made from Syrah vines over 40 years old planted just outside the Cornas appellation boundary. Though it cannot carry the Cornas name, it is crafted with the same uncompromising, traditional philosophy as the estate's grand vin: whole-cluster fermentation in concrete vats with native yeasts, and aging in old oak. The result is pure, vividly fruited Syrah with a distinct mineral backbone — more immediate than the Cornas, but unmistakably cut from the same cloth.