2014 Cornas Renaissance

Inky ruby. Spice- and smoke-accented dark berry, licorice and olive aromas on the deeply perfumed nose; a complicating floral nuance builds in the glass. Densely packed cherry, cassis and spicecake flavors are braced by an undertone of juicy minerality that adds lively cut and lift. Shows excellent clarity on the sweet, expansive finish, which is framed by harmonious tannins.

The 2014s are more elegant, silky and streamlined, yet offer classic characters and will evolve gracefully. Readers looking for a smoking good Cornas to drink over the coming 7-8 years need to latch onto bottles of the 2014 Cornas Renaissance, which is the estate’s entry-level cuvée. Classic Clape in every way, with its meaty, bloody, iron, crushed rock and violet-tinged fruit, it’s medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated and supple, with beautiful fruit. There's plenty of fine tannin here, but it also has a solid density of fruit and a beautiful texture. It's already hard to resist.

Saturated ruby. Potent black and blue fruit, cola, olive and smoky Indian spice aromas are lifted by a suggestion of cracked pepper. Sappy, pliant and appealingly sweet, offering ripe blueberry and cherry compote flavors that tighten up steadily with air. Rich yet energetic, showing strong closing punch and velvety tannins that fold smoothly into sappy dark fruit on the impressively long finish.