2015 Domaine Auguste Clape Côtes du Rhône
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Tasting notes
Bright violet. Deep-pitched dark berry, licorice and floral pastille aromas, accompanied by peppery spice and olive paste notes in the background. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering bitter cherry, cassis and spicecake flavors given backbone and lift by juicy acidity. A smoky quality appears on the long, dark-fruit-driven finish, which features gently chewy, harmonious tannins that provide framework and grip.
Critic scores
Josh Raynolds
Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
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Readers on a budget looking for a taste of the style of this benchmark estate need to latch onto a few bottles of the Vin des Amis and Côtes du Rhône (although, unfortunately, some retailers gouge consumers for these cuvées). Also bottled in September, the 2015 Côtes du Rhône is another inky-colored beauty that’s packed with fruit. It’s more complex and elegant than the Vin des Amis and offers more smoked meats, garrigue, peppery herbs, and red and black fruits. This cuvée comes from more pebbly soils and is open-knit and ready to go. Both entry-level releases are loaded with character.