wine still
reserve
Clape Cornas
Cornas, France
About this product
The reference Cornas — the most complete expression of this powerful, rustic appellation. Auguste Clape established the template: dense Syrah from old granite vines, traditional maceration, old-barrel ageing, no fining or filtration. The wine is almost brutally austere when young (3–5 years from vintage) — dark, inky, peppery, tannic. At 15–25 years, extraordinary complexity emerges: dark fruit, game, earth, iron, liquorice. An essential reference for tannin management education. BC: Classic Wine Imports.
The deductive profile Library
colouropaque dark garnet
nosedark cherry, game, earth, iron, white and black pepper
palatemassive tannins young; extraordinary depth at 15+ years
Service
noterequires 10+ years cellaring before drinking
temp c17°C
decant minutes90 min
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Open The LibraryTasting profile
dark cherry, game, earth, iron, white and black pepper
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Pairings
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main
Clape Cornas's brutal tannic power demands food of equivalent weight and intensity. Wild boar's gamey richness and the black olive jus mirror the wine's iron-earthy-game character. The polenta provides the necessary starchy body to soften the tannin grip.
classic
main
complement
game
Clape Cornas's granite-born Syrah demands wild boar; the wine reduction ties the terroir to the plate
classic
main
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food
Clape Cornas's granite Syrah belongs with roe deer and chestnut polenta; a northern Rhône game pairing
classic
main
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game
Clape Cornas's intense granite Syrah bridges the wild boar bourguignon; a granitic wine for the most rustic game preparation
classic
main
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Meat poultry
Ardèche lamb raised near the Cornas vineyards and Clape's Cornas create an immediate terroir connection; the herb crust bridges the wine's Provence-adjacent aromatic character
classic
main
complement
Charcuterie cheese
Laguiole's herbal-mountain character from Aubrac pastures bridges with Cornas's wild garrigue-pepper; the cheese's nutty richness provides the fat to soften the tannins
established
cheese
complement
Meat poultry
Duck confit's extraordinary fat depth and the flageolet beans' earthy softness create the richness required to tame Cornas's formidable tannins; duck fat bridges the smoked olive note in the wine
established
main
complement
Meat poultry
Andouillette's intense offal character and the mustard's sharpness require a wine of Cornas's iron-pepper austerity to provide structure; a pairing that rewards those who appreciate both without compromise
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