The great values from Clape include his Vin de Table. The 2010 VDT de France Vin des Amis is wild and savage, with loads of boysenberry and mountain berry fruit intermixed with earth and animal-like notes. Supple textured and attractive, it is ideal for drinking in its first 5-7 years of life, although I suspect it may last longer.
This historic reference point for the wines of Cornas is one of the world’s most enviable small estates. Long run by Auguste Clape, who has slowly moved into retirement, turning the reins over to his talented son, Pierre-Marie, the quality of the Clape wines has been brilliant since I began visiting the estate over 30 years ago. I believe the 2009 and 2010 Cornas are the finest wines they have yet produced ... and that’s saying something.
Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524