Modern, Post-War, Contemporary Art and Wine
Online-Only Auction, 16 - 23 August 2021
Wine
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About this Item
The late Auguste Clape first went to Cornas in 1949 to marry his wife Henriette whose family owned 5 hectares of vines in the appellation. For many years, most growers in Cornas sold their fruit to négociants but Auguste became a local legend when he became the first to make wine from his own grapes instead of selling them. This decision set the tone for the future of Cornas. Today, his son Pierre-Marie and grandson Olivier Clape run the estate. Although they only farm 8 hectares, the tightly stacked and terraced vineyards present a huge challenge. The sharp precipices make the use of any machinery impossible and, as a result, all the work must be done by hand. Clape’s powerful and authentic Syrahs, produced from the region’s best granite soils, have become world renowned and are among the most celebrated wines of France. They only produce two cuvées – the Cornas, from 40 to 90-year-old vines, and the Cornas Renaissance which is produced from their younger vines.
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘Probably the wine of the vintage is Clape’s 2013 Cornas. Coming from some of the prime terroirs in this incredible appellation, it’s always 100% Syrah (Cornas is always 100% Syrah) that saw no destemming and spent 22 months in mostly ancient foudre. This wine offers up classic Clape notes of beef blood, cold steel, liquid rock, pepper and saddle leather (there’s fruit in there as well) to go with a medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, rich, textured 2013 that has an awesome mid-palate, ripe tannin and clean, lengthy finish. It won’t be as long lived as some of the more blockbuster-styled years, but it will dish out incredible pleasure over the coming 10-15 years.’ - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Dec 2015)
‘Glass-staining ruby. Spicy, highly perfumed cassis, boysenberry, incense, smoky bacon and mineral scents show excellent clarity. Densely packed, fresh and energetic on the palate, offering concentrated flavors of fresh black and blue fruits and floral pastilles. Shows an alluring sweetness on the extremely persistent finish, which features harmonious tannins and a strong echo of smoky minerality.’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 95/100 (Mar 2016)
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