Auguste Clape, Cornas, 2022

Few wines in the Rhône—or anywhere—carry the weight of legacy like Auguste Clape’s Cornas. A benchmark since the 1950s, this is Syrah in its purest and most untamed form: whole-cluster fermented, aged in old foudres, bottled unfiltered, and always sourced from some of Cornas’ steepest, most historic slopes. The 2022 vintage is classic Clape—dark, meaty, and wild out of the gate, with layers of black olive, violets, iron, and cracked pepper. But underneath the rustic surface lies a coiled core of minerality and tannic structure that reveals itself slowly with air, or over decades in the cellar. There’s no polish, no makeup—just granite, grape, and time. This is not a wine to rush. Best with long-braised meats, aged cheeses, or tucked away for a decade or more. For those who understand the language of old-school Cornas, Clape 2022 speaks fluently—and will only grow more eloquent with age.