Domaine Auguste Clape Saint-Péray 2022
Domaine Auguste Clape
Auguste Clape is the undisputed king of Cornas, but this Saint-Péray proves the family's mastery extends to white Marsanne as well. Grown on the same fire-forged granite slopes that define the estate's legendary Syrahs, this is a white wine shaped by heat and stone — muscular yet elegant, with a mineral spine that speaks directly to terroir. A brilliant companion to the Cornas rouge in this issue's lineup.
Nose
Opens with aromas of white peach, honeysuckle, and crushed limestone. A subtle thread of toasted almond emerges alongside beeswax and chamomile. There is a gentle smoky minerality that hints at the volcanic granite soils beneath the vines.
Palate
The palate is rich yet taut, delivering ripe pear and quince with a lanolin-like texture that coats the mid-palate. Bright acidity provides lift, while flavors of roasted hazelnut and dried apricot add depth. A saline, almost flinty mineral note drives through the fruit, giving the wine a sense of purpose and structure.
Finish
Long and focused, with lingering notes of warm stone, bitter almond, and a whisper of white pepper. The granite-born minerality persists well after the final sip.
- Varietal
- Marsanne
- Blend
- 100% Marsanne
- Vineyards
- Estate vineyards on the granite hillsides of Saint-Péray, adjacent to the Clape family's renowned Cornas parcels in the Northern Rhône
- Alcohol
- 13.0%
- Organic / Biodynamic
- No
- Skin Contact
- No
Food Pairing
A classic roasted free-range chicken, basted in butter and fresh tarragon, served alongside a creamy gratin dauphinois. The wine's waxy richness and nutty undertones mirror the golden-skinned bird, while its bright acidity cuts through the cream of the potato gratin. A few shavings of aged Comté on the side complete the pairing.
From the same sun-scorched granite hillsides that forge Clape's iconic Cornas, this Marsanne absorbs the heat of the Northern Rhône's most intense amphitheater and transforms it into white wine of uncommon power and grace.
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