The 2003 Cornas Renaissance offers plenty of plum, raspberry, and blackberry fruit in an up-front, charming, already delicious style. Plush, medium-bodied, and silky, it is one of the most accessible wines Clape has ever produced. Enjoy it over the next 6-8 years. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel (510) 524-1524

Looking first at the 2003 Cornas Renaissance, it offers plenty of overripe fruit and a completely evolved, soft and supple feel on the palate. Drink ‘em if you have ‘em. These two releases from Auguste Clape were a little yin and yang, with the younger vine Renaissance clearly showing the effects of the difficult vintage, and the straight Cornas showing superb richness and depth. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to taste the Reynard release.

For a cuvee intended to be drunk young, this is packed with material. It’s thick and dense with jammy raspberry fruit, a product of the hot vintage and tiny yields. Still slightly tannic, so hold off another couple of years. Drink 2010–2020.——J.C.(9/1/2007)—— 90