Clape's 2000 Cornas stands out as one of the appellation's finest efforts. It boasts an opaque purple color as well as a strikingly pure bouquet of blackberry liqueur with notions of oak (from its aging in ancient barriques and foudres), full body, sweet tannin, low acidity, and concentrated, layered flavors. Unlike many northern Rhone producers, Clape has achieved a serious mid-palate in his 2000. This effort is reminiscent of the 1985 (which was still drinking terrifically in summer, 2001). Anticipated maturity: 2003-2016. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

A lovely, rustic, quintessential Auguste Clape nose, as if inhaling a wine atop a stack of hay bales in a barn. The palate is more approachable than I expected, more medium- than full-bodied with blackberry leaf, leather, mushroom and undergrowth. Typically reserved on the tannic finish. Very fine. Tasted May 2006.

(from the last bottling, done in September) Bright ruby-red. Subdued but complex nose combines blueberry, raspberry, cassis, pepper, licorice, minerals, clove and espresso, along with a slightly rustic resiny note. Supple on entry, then less expressive in the middle despite displaying good breadth and palate presence. Flavors of dark fruits and pepper. Finishes with noble, late-arriving tannins that reach the front teeth. Pierre-Marie says this wine is currently showing a bit of a dip in the middle as a result of the recent bottling, but he feels that the 2001 will ultimately prove to be a fuller Cornas. I would not be surprised if this eventually merited a 90-point rating.

100% Syrah, granite soil, 30-38 hl/ha yield, 22 months ageing in oak foudres, bottled without filtration, light fining, 13.25 % alcohol, 2.8 g/l acidity, 3.8 pH. Dark, healthy crimson. Leather and spice on the nose – convincingly deep. Ripe fruit on the front palate and very winningly open on the mid palate with dusty tannins only on the finish. A very successful expression of Cornas. (JR)