Cornas Clape 2023 (750ML)

95 Points, Yohan Castaing, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "Bottled just one month before my tasting, Clape’s 2023 Cornas opens with a deep, introverted bouquet of cassis, mulberries and licorice mingled with carnal notes. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and structured, it’s built around a firm, somewhat austere palate with a good chassis of youthful tannins that lead to a spicy, lead pencil-inflected finish. Despite its brooding character, it should benefit from time in the cellar." 05/26

93-95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "A clear step up, the old vine cuvée 2023 Cornas has textbook smoky red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with game, peppery herbs, and violets. It's medium-bodied, has solid mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. This classic, impeccably made Clape will need just a few years of bottle age to shine and should evolve beautifully over the following 15+ years." 02/26

96 Points, Matt Walls, Decanter: "A tasting of the constituent parts, so this is a provisional score. The 2023 is less ripe in style than the 2022. It has plentiful herbal notes, encompassing oregano, bay leaf and liquorice, with blueberry fruit. It looks like a more classic vintage than the recent run of hot years; structured, with classically bold and textural Cornas tannins and bright acidity, akin to 2006 or 2007 in style. Should be an athletic, energetic style that will take on impressive complexity in time." 09/24