Dark and dense. Smells of juniper, crowberries and other dark berries, as well as a sour-sweet smell of bonfire and smoke. Slightly herbaceous and animal aromas. The taste follows the aromas - this is juicy and fruity with soft tannins and pleasant acid. Seems far younger than its 12 years, a smooth CdR that drinks really well now.
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Evolved in the aromas, but a better bottle compared to the last one. Complex, reminding leather, mineral and resin. Balanced and integrated with an evolved finishing. Very pleasant wine! On its peak now.
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Lots of barnyard funk which quickly dissipated after opening. Lots of dark fruits with mellowed tannins. This wine has a remarkable minerality which makes it really refreshing to drink- no palate fatigue with this stuff. Not as rustic as some wines in this class/price range. Excellent wine, drinking really well right now.
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WOW! The funk and barnyard in the nose with notes of burnt fat was amazing. In the glass this wine was inky dark and the flavor had lots of dark fruit, coffee, and more of that meaty fat. It fills the mouth. The tannins are very well integrated to support all that flavor. This wine is ready to drink.
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With a grilled burger 2001 Domaine Auguste Clape Côtes du Rhône, alc 13% , $20 On the nose charred meat, licorice and a little leather and blood. Assaults the palate with a serious blast of all that makes Rhone Syrah attractive to me... meat, blood, smoke, dark fruit, etc.. Finishes with a slight sweetness. Tannins are subsiding. A really great value. It would be great to have a case of this to drink over the next 10+ yrs
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$22.25 retail price (averaged), after discount. Opened following the '03 and '04 Clape Vin des amis (see TNs), what a HUGE difference there is stepping up to this 2001 CdR, for which I have several TNs already archived. Charred meat, olive tapenade, toast, black fruit, tobacco. Indeed, this is a ringer for Cornas. A clear value, with good short term development potential.
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See previous TNs. Not to sound like a broken record here, but this is an excellent value and an honest wine of place. Slightly rustic, with coffee, brambly spice, a bit of an herbal undertone. Nice acid structure. I look for wines like this but rearely find them in this price range...
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$20-25 retail, after discount (purchased from a few different sources). Once again, I just can't believe the value that this wine offers. Aromas of dark fruits, coffee and light herbal notes require little swirling to unleash. Fairly rich and thick on the palate; balanced but present acidity and moderately tannic. Mouth coating black fruit and cocoa / coffee / game notes as well as an herbal element. This wine really delivers. I would suspect it has pretty decent mid-term ageablity... that said, it's great now.
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In line with previous TNs. Black cherry fruit; cola; moderately tannic; a raw, meaty quality really fills in this terrific CdR. Real Syrah. Should develop well over the next few years...
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Again, an excellent wine with solid mid-term potential. Full bodied, and rustic; though tannic, it has a brightness of fruit and a meatiness that provides balance. Dark fruit, cola, grilled meat.
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Dark, blackish color. Black fruit; tobacco; leather; meaty. This "Cotes du Rhone", apparently from a single hectare the Clapes work just outside of the Cornas A.O.C., is certainly on the expensive side for "Cotes du Rhone" ($30 retail before discount); however, for what's in the bottle - a wine showing a lot of Northern Rhone typicity and soul - it's well worth the price of admission, IMO. Impressive!
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10/5/2013 - GuWin wrote: 89 Points
Dark and dense. Smells of juniper, crowberries and other dark berries, as well as a sour-sweet smell of bonfire and smoke. Slightly herbaceous and animal aromas. The taste follows the aromas - this is juicy and fruity with soft tannins and pleasant acid. Seems far younger than its 12 years, a smooth CdR that drinks really well now.
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5/21/2012 - Marcyrillo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Evolved in the aromas, but a better bottle compared to the last one. Complex, reminding leather, mineral and resin. Balanced and integrated with an evolved finishing. Very pleasant wine! On its peak now.
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1/5/2012 - Marcyrillo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Ja evoluido. Otimo balanco, maciez e elegancia, ate um pouco "adocicado". Muito bom mesmo, porem acho que estou tomando apos o tempo
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9/30/2009 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 92 Points
Another terrific bottle. I wish I had purchased a case of this. Classic Northern Rhone, terrific QPR.
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11/27/2008 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 93 Points
Lots of barnyard funk which quickly dissipated after opening. Lots of dark fruits with mellowed tannins. This wine has a remarkable minerality which makes it really refreshing to drink- no palate fatigue with this stuff. Not as rustic as some wines in this class/price range. Excellent wine, drinking really well right now.
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11/2/2008 - Vitis viking wrote: 90 Points
drukket til reinsdyrfileet. Perfekt match.
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10/26/2008 - lopaka wrote: 92 Points
WOW! The funk and barnyard in the nose with notes of burnt fat was amazing. In the glass this wine was inky dark and the flavor had lots of dark fruit, coffee, and more of that meaty fat. It fills the mouth. The tannins are very well integrated to support all that flavor. This wine is ready to drink.
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12/30/2007 - cweiss wrote:
Less funk than previous bottles. Still very pretty and typical syrah fruit.
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9/11/2007 - ssouth wrote: 93 Points
With a grilled burger
2001 Domaine Auguste Clape Côtes du Rhône, alc 13% , $20 On the nose charred meat, licorice and a little leather and blood. Assaults the palate with a serious blast of all that makes Rhone Syrah attractive to me... meat, blood, smoke, dark fruit, etc.. Finishes with a slight sweetness. Tannins are subsiding. A really great value. It would be great to have a case of this to drink over the next 10+ yrs
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4/8/2007 - cweiss wrote:
Still drinking well. Nice "dirty" syrah. Presumably not the depth of the classified Cornas, but there's a lot here.
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3/11/2006 - Ben Andersen wrote:
$22.25 retail price (averaged), after discount. Opened following the '03 and '04 Clape Vin des amis (see TNs), what a HUGE difference there is stepping up to this 2001 CdR, for which I have several TNs already archived. Charred meat, olive tapenade, toast, black fruit, tobacco. Indeed, this is a ringer for Cornas. A clear value, with good short term development potential.
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9/13/2005 - Ben Andersen wrote:
See previous TNs. Not to sound like a broken record here, but this is an excellent value and an honest wine of place. Slightly rustic, with coffee, brambly spice, a bit of an herbal undertone. Nice acid structure. I look for wines like this but rearely find them in this price range...
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5/19/2005 - Ben Andersen wrote:
$20-25 retail, after discount (purchased from a few different sources). Once again, I just can't believe the value that this wine offers. Aromas of dark fruits, coffee and light herbal notes require little swirling to unleash. Fairly rich and thick on the palate; balanced but present acidity and moderately tannic. Mouth coating black fruit and cocoa / coffee / game notes as well as an herbal element. This wine really delivers. I would suspect it has pretty decent mid-term ageablity... that said, it's great now.
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1/1/2005 - cweiss wrote:
Excellent value at pur chase price. Good, "dirty" syrah, like a very good cornas, presumably declassified.
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12/29/2004 - Ben Andersen wrote:
In line with previous TNs. Black cherry fruit; cola; moderately tannic; a raw, meaty quality really fills in this terrific CdR. Real Syrah. Should develop well over the next few years...
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12/10/2004 - AJ72 wrote: 78 Points
Way too bretty for my liking.
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8/28/2004 - Ben Andersen wrote:
Again, an excellent wine with solid mid-term potential. Full bodied, and rustic; though tannic, it has a brightness of fruit and a meatiness that provides balance. Dark fruit, cola, grilled meat.
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7/20/2004 - Ben Andersen wrote:
Dark, blackish color. Black fruit; tobacco; leather; meaty. This "Cotes du Rhone", apparently from a single hectare the Clapes work just outside of the Cornas A.O.C., is certainly on the expensive side for "Cotes du Rhone" ($30 retail before discount); however, for what's in the bottle - a wine showing a lot of Northern Rhone typicity and soul - it's well worth the price of admission, IMO. Impressive!
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