Côtes du Rhône Syrah, Domaine Auguste Clape 2018

Inky ruby. An expansive bouquet evokes ripe blackberry, cassis, potpourri and olive, and a smoky mineral nuance builds as the wine opens up. Shows impressive depth as well as energy, offering sweet, spice-tinged black and blue fruit and candied violet flavors that are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Quite lively for its depth and power, finishing on a gently tannic note, with sharp clarity and spicy thrust.

I always find a touch more density and concentration in the Côtes du Rhône compared to the Le Vin Des Amis, and the 2018 has a similar bouquet (smoked game, graphite, piercing minerality, and pepper) to go with a richer, medium to full-bodied style on the palate. Textbook Clape, I’d love to see it on my dinner table any time over the coming 7-8 years.