2016 Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Amis

Community Tasting Notes (34) Avg Score: 89.4 points

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  11/14/2023 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points

  Popped-and-poured, this was ok to start, but really needed an hour to strut its stuff. Black and blue berries throughout with trace hints of black pepper, savory spice, roasted meat, and autumn flowers in the background. Everything is held together with smooth, elegant tannins. I think my first time trying this wine from any vintage, and I am impressed. Drink through 2030+.

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  4/1/2023 - kuumies wrote:

  A very deep blackberry-driven nose with classic notes of iron, wet stones and black pepper. Very slick, very stylish. On the palate it has appropriate ripeness, medium to full body and some gripping tannins. Not developed at all but all the way classic Northern Rhône Syrah. High quality, but very young as we speak.

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  3/31/2023 - forceberry wrote: 92 Points

  100% Syrah made with fruit sourced from the vineyards lying on the low plains between the village of Cornas and the Rhône river along with some younger-vine fruit from the Cornas vineyards on the hills. Vinified in whole bunches, fermented spontaneously and macerated for approximately a week in concrete, racked into old foudres after the MLF, aged for a few months in oak. 12,5% alcohol.
  
  Youthful, luminous ruby-to-cherry-red color that permits some light through. The clean, fragrant nose is instantly recognizable for a traditional Syrah with its deep, vibrant aromas of crushed blackberries, boysenberries and peppercorns, some bloody and meaty tones, a little bit of olive, light inky nuances, a hint of smoked charcuterie, a sweet touch of bilberry juice and a rubbery whiff of reduction. The wine is dry, savory and eminently juicy on the palate with a medium body and focused flavors of bilberries and gamey meat, some earthy notes, a little bit of peppery spice, light boysenberry tones and a ferrous hint of blood. The wine is high in acidity with silky, textural medium tannins that slowly turn the wine somewhat grippy. The finish is long, dry and savory with medium-to-moderate tannic grip and a quite intense aftertaste of blood and game, chokeberry bitterness, some inky tones, a little bit of brambly blackberry and fresh bilberry, light tart notes of lingonberries, a hint of earthy spice and a touch of smoked charcuterie.
  
  A very classically styled, clean and vibrant Syrah that shows some obvious ripeness without any softness or obvious sunny sweetness, instead emphasizing structure and savory flavors. That Vin de France appellation might fool people, but this is as classic as Northern Rhône Syrah comes - a fine wine that is very true to the variety and to the region it comes from. As serious as a Vin de France gets. It drinks really well right now, but there's no denying that the wine is still very young and shows good potential for further development over the next decade or so. A bargain at approx. 25€.

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  1/15/2022 - karl.1480 Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Textbook Syrah-aromatics that has turned to the more savory, meaty side since last bottle 2 years ago. As Xavier points out this has lost a bit of it's youthful nerve but I still think this is a solid Syrah. Ready to drink but should keep well for another year or two.

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  10/21/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 89 Points

  Three years since my previous tasting note and only two bottles left from a full case. This was best when it was very young, and I am glad that I got that right. It's still light (perhaps even a bit diluted) on the palate, and the peppery, floral fragrance on the nose has lost some of its initial verve. Nice enough, but clearly a weaker vintage for Le Vin des Amis, even though the fruit has a gentle elegance of crushed red raspberries which is absent in more vigorous vintages.

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