2001 Cornas
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Tasting notes
Clape's outstanding 2001 Cornas—while still at its apogee 20 years after the vintage—should nevertheless be consumed over the next several years, as notes of leather and dried leaves are impinging on the vibrant red fruit. Still full-bodied, almost creamy in feel, with a luxurious plushness in the mouth, it finishes long and harmonious. Just a terrific effort.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The impressively youthful 2001 Clape Cornas presents a surprisingly dark color for its age, along with powerful, densely packed dark fruit, licorice, espresso and bitter chocolate character. A smoky mineral note sharpens and extends the long, smoky finish, which leaves cherry liqueur, candied violet and fruitcake notes behind. This is still a youngster and it’s definitely built for the long haul.
100% Syrah, granite soil, 30-38 hl/ha yield, 22 months ageing in oak foudres, bottled without filtration, light fining, 2.8 g/l acidity, 3.8 pH. Strange slightly rubbery aromas, then opening up to meaty marmite (yeast extract), though also a little stemmy. Firm, thick tannins and fine acidity. Moderate length. (JH)
Bright ruby-red. Superripe, expressive aromas of dark berries, black olive tapenade, gunflint and dark chocolate. Fleshy and sweet, with flavors of blackberry, dried herbs, black olive, pepper and smoke. Very much a wine from granitic soil; conveys a strong impression of noble rusticity. Finishes very long, with big, chewy tannins and late notes of dried herbs, olive and black pepper. Has the material to reward a decade or more of cellaring, but this is also less austere in its youth than most recent vintages of Clape Cornas. I underrated this wine a year ago, although at the time I tasted it in its several components.