From one of the five newish AOPs in Languedoc recognising special wine places, La Clape’s an area near Narbonne very close to the sea and a theoretical maritime cooling influence. This version is 40% Syrah, 40% Grenache and 20% Mourvèdre which seems pretty typical of the AOP’s permitted varieties. Starts very Mediterranean with a warm herby shrubiness which becomes recognisably sage, lavender and bay leaf with time. Lots of spiced red fruits and lots of chewy extract with a tail of hot year dark prune, rich and smoothly ripe. Plenty flowery perfume to balance the chunky fruit, maybe violets from Syrah and roses from Grenache. Good drag of drying skin tannin and roast meat add a clean finish. Safely made with a polish but still has real character. Delicious now rather than later perhaps? This La Clape deserves infectious applause.
14% alcohol. Diam. $19.90 direct import from Woolworths.
Started 91, then got better, 92 perhaps.
Second bottle a good six months later and time has been very kind. Without seeing the label, easy to believe this could be a ripe Northern Rhône at twice the price. Really good. 93 points
Cognitive Bottle Therapy 
Seconded. Another bottle last week. Still a great drink, elegance from where you least expect it.
LikeLike
Exactly. I think the winemaker is ex Bordeaux and it sort of shows perhaps? Cheers.
LikeLike