This week we had a difficult time deciding what wine to
feature as our Spotlight. As we sifted through our latest arrivals,
Mitch's eye drifted towards a bottle on the edge of his desk, one he had
been meaning to try. It was at that moment a decision was made. When I
called our Assistant Wine Director, Codey, to get the inside scoop on
the bottle he was excited to hear our decision. He described the wine
and explained the domaine is one of the most celebrated in all of
France, going on to state that the winemaker is the "top dog" of the
Rhone Valley. Codey also went on to say that the wine's "big
brother" received consecutive 100 point scores from top wine reviewers
across the world. This piqued my curiosity and after a bit of
research I was eager to try it. So now, I would like to introduce you to
this week's Spotlight Wine: 2008 Cornas "Renaissance" by Auguste Clape.
2008 Cornas "Renaissance"
is the Clape family's entry level Cornas. It offers a taste of the
brilliance that is Domaine Clape at a fraction of the price of the
family's signature Cornas, which sells for upwards of $150.00 per
bottle. It is produced from 12-22 year old vines, featuring newer
plantings of the legendary domaine. 
The wine is aged for 22 months in neutral wood barrels, allowing the Syrah to breathe. The result is a timeless, traditional Syrah with an expressive nose and plenty of juicy fruit on the palate. 2008 Cornas "Renaissance"
is a beautiful wine that is exceptionally balanced, its gracefully
acidity and soft tannins lead to a lasting, memorable finish.
Auguste Clape (the former mayor of Cornas) is considered one of the great pioneers of Northern Rhone.
His wines are among the most celebrated in France and are the very
definition of the village Cornas. Auguste was the village's first
producer to bottle his own wine, prior to which it was all sold to
negociants. Auguste now works alongside his son, Pierre-Marie, and
grandson, Olivier. The
family relies on the relationship between man and nature to produce
beautiful, charismatic Syrah that is capable of tremendous longevity. 
They keep fruit on the vine as long as possible and wait for optimal
ripeness before harvesting the vineyards by hand. Whole grape clusters
are then fermented with natural yeasts in open air cement cuves. It is
in these cuves that the wine "makes itself" by taking on the rustic,
natural character of the appellation Cornas.
"Bright ruby. Lively aromas of raspberry, cherry, spice cake and flowers. Sweet red fruit flavors give way to deeper blackberry notes on the palate, with gentle smokiness and a touch of licorice adding complexity. Nervy acidity adds definition and cut to a long, energetic finish. Olivier said that these lively '08s might surprise people with their ability to age". 90 Points - Stephen Tanzer's IWC
2008 Cornas "Renaissance"
is the Clape family's entry level Cornas. It offers a taste of the
brilliance that is Domaine Clape at a fraction of the price of the
family's signature Cornas, which sells for upwards of $150.00 per
bottle. It is produced from 12-22 year old vines, featuring newer
plantings of the legendary domaine. The wine is aged for 22 months in neutral wood barrels, allowing the Syrah to breathe. The result is a timeless, traditional Syrah with an expressive nose and plenty of juicy fruit on the palate. 2008 Cornas "Renaissance"
is a beautiful wine that is exceptionally balanced, its gracefully
acidity and soft tannins lead to a lasting, memorable finish. Auguste Clape (the former mayor of Cornas) is considered one of the great pioneers of Northern Rhone.
His wines are among the most celebrated in France and are the very
definition of the village Cornas. Auguste was the village's first
producer to bottle his own wine, prior to which it was all sold to
negociants. Auguste now works alongside his son, Pierre-Marie, and
grandson, Olivier. The
family relies on the relationship between man and nature to produce
beautiful, charismatic Syrah that is capable of tremendous longevity.
They keep fruit on the vine as long as possible and wait for optimal
ripeness before harvesting the vineyards by hand. Whole grape clusters
are then fermented with natural yeasts in open air cement cuves. It is
in these cuves that the wine "makes itself" by taking on the rustic,
natural character of the appellation Cornas."Bright ruby. Lively aromas of raspberry, cherry, spice cake and flowers. Sweet red fruit flavors give way to deeper blackberry notes on the palate, with gentle smokiness and a touch of licorice adding complexity. Nervy acidity adds definition and cut to a long, energetic finish. Olivier said that these lively '08s might surprise people with their ability to age". 90 Points - Stephen Tanzer's IWC
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