The 2021 Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance is a red wine made from Syrah grapes, produced in the Northern Rhone region of France, specifically in the Cornas appellation. This vintage has garnered notable attention from critics, reflecting its quality and character.
James Suckling awarded the wine an impressive 95 points. He describes it as "a dense, layered and well-built Cornas with aromas of cassis, plums, lychees, gunpowder, and dried flowers." Suckling emphasizes its medium-bodied nature and fine, firm tannins, noting the wine's texture and freshness. He highlights a "vivid core of berries with a solid frame of tannins coating the palate," and praises its harmonious and flavorful profile, with an added lift of pepper. Suckling's review underscores the impressive concentration for the vintage, recommending it be tried after 2025 (jamessuckling.com, 5/3/2024).
Jeb Dunnuck also reviewed the 2021 Cornas Renaissance, giving it a solid 91 points. His tasting notes describe it as a "charming, forward effort" with medium-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe red and blue fruits, pepper, and sappy herbs. Dunnuck points out its balanced nature and ripe tannins, noting the more focused texture characteristic of the vintage. He suggests giving the wine a year or two before enjoying it over the following decade (jebdunnuck.com, 3/28/2024).
Vinous, another respected publication, also rated the wine at 91 points. Their review highlights the wine's medium-bodied profile, with floral notes of orange blossom and violet, complemented by herbaceous elements, red plum, and pencil shavings. The wine is framed by refreshing acidity and a neatly structured body. Vinous recommends allowing the wine two more years in the bottle to fully develop its complexity (Vinous, 3/1/2024).
Overall, the 2021 Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance is a well-regarded Syrah with a balanced profile, notable structure, and the potential for further aging.