🏰 The 2019 vintage in the Rhône Valley was exceptionally strong, characterized by an early start to the growing season with hot daytime temperatures in July and August. Despite this, cool nights helped the grapes retain crucial acidity, resulting in balanced wines. Auguste Clape's 2019 Cornas is lauded for flirting with perfection. It offers an expansive and highly complex bouquet, evoking mineral- and spice-tinged dark berry preserve, potpourri, olive paste, and smoky bacon. On the palate, it's tremendously dense and powerful, a dazzling, dark-fruited beast loaded with mint, cassis, and licorice notes. It delivers full-bodied richness, building, beautiful tannins, and almost flawless balance, reminiscent of the brilliant 2010 vintage. The wine is agile and wonderfully layered, with a long, finely detailed finish echoing floral and mineral notes. 【Rated 98 points by Jeb Dunnuck, this vintage flirts with perfection】. 🍴 This bold Syrah is an excellent match for rich lamb dishes or traditional Persian cuisine. 🥂 This Cornas is built for the long haul; give bottles 4-5 years of cellaring, and it will keep for two decades, peaking around 2035. It's an ideal choice for a sophisticated dinner party or a special occasion that calls for a powerful, age-worthy red.