The inky/purple-colored 2001 Cornas Renaissance offers a big, sweet perfume of blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with animal fur, tree bark, and melted asphalt aromas. Creamy-textured, long, and rich, it is an exciting offering from Clape’s younger vines. There is nothing wrong with a case of Clape! As I have been writing for several decades, Auguste Clape and his son, Pierre-Marie, represent the gold standard for classic Cornas. Readers lucky enough to have access to his importer’s portfolio (Kermit Lynch) should always check out his inexpensive Cotes du Rhone as well as his vin de pays called Le Vin des Amis. Both are noteworthy introductions to what can be found in his Cornas cuvees.Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524