Domaine Clape

The modern era of Cornas started in the 1950s, and few if any estates have performed with the same consistency as Domaine Clape. Today it’s managed by Pierre and, increasingly, his son Olivier.

In terms of style, little has changed since Pierre’s father Auguste was in charge. They are unflinching traditionalists, fermenting whole bunches in raw concrete tanks with indigenous yeasts, then maturing the wines for 2 years in small old wooden foudres in a dark cellar that’s thick with black mould under a terraced house in the heart of Cornas.

They have enviable parcels of old vines across the original Cornas slope, including Sabarotte, Patou, Tézier, Mazards, La Côte, and some 100-year-old vines in Reynards – the dark heart of the blend. The grand vin is usually accompanied by a second wine called Renaissance that was introduced in 1997. The style here is deeply savoury, with serrated tannins and elemental power. If they didn’t make Cornas, they’d be famous for their exceptional Saint-Péray.