| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2020 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionOne of the earliest harvests on record, with cooler nights allowing Syrah to ripen evenly and retain freshness. Despite record-setting heat and drought, the wines show classic elegance and finesse. Silky tannins mean early drinking pleasure, while good acidity and structure mean ageability. A truly great year for both reds and whites |
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DescriptionOne of the earliest harvests on record, with cooler nights allowing Syrah to ripen evenly and retain freshness. Despite record-setting heat and drought, the wines show classic elegance and finesse. Silky tannins mean early drinking pleasure, while good acidity and structure mean ageability. A truly great year for both reds and whites |
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Vintage2019 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionReduced crop due to windy conditions at flowering, hail in Crozes in June and a hot, dry growing season overall, but August rains helped alleviate maturity blockages and harvest was completed under ideal conditions. Reds are very concentrated and defined, with copious fruit; whites are more inconsistent |
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DescriptionReduced crop due to windy conditions at flowering, hail in Crozes in June and a hot, dry growing season overall, but August rains helped alleviate maturity blockages and harvest was completed under ideal conditions. Reds are very concentrated and defined, with copious fruit; whites are more inconsistent |
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Vintage2018 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSimilar to the south, with an early season marred by wet weather, leading to severe mildew pressure through June. Summer was hot and dry but without heat spikes. Reds are caressing and forward; whites are showy and unctuous |
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DescriptionSimilar to the south, with an early season marred by wet weather, leading to severe mildew pressure through June. Summer was hot and dry but without heat spikes. Reds are caressing and forward; whites are showy and unctuous |
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Vintage2017 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionThe north enjoyed a long, warm and dry season with cool nights and well-timed rains near the end to help finish ripening; no serious weather issues as in the south. Reds are ripe and seductive; whites are juicy and well-detailed |
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DescriptionThe north enjoyed a long, warm and dry season with cool nights and well-timed rains near the end to help finish ripening; no serious weather issues as in the south. Reds are ripe and seductive; whites are juicy and well-detailed |
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Vintage2016 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionAn admirable follow-up to 2015. A wet spring led to a late-running season; Hermitage was hit by hail in April, reducing the crop, yet hot weather from July through September spurred ripening and an Indian summer persisted through October. Reds are ripe, focused and pure; whites are scintillating, with freshness and purity |
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DescriptionAn admirable follow-up to 2015. A wet spring led to a late-running season; Hermitage was hit by hail in April, reducing the crop, yet hot weather from July through September spurred ripening and an Indian summer persisted through October. Reds are ripe, focused and pure; whites are scintillating, with freshness and purity |
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Vintage2015 |
Score99 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionThe north’s new benchmark; a vintage marked by heat and drought, but without the downside as nights were cool, maintaining acidity, and rains well-timed for ideal ripening. Reds are rich in both fruit and terroir, with ample but integrated structure; whites are vibrant and pure |
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DescriptionThe north’s new benchmark; a vintage marked by heat and drought, but without the downside as nights were cool, maintaining acidity, and rains well-timed for ideal ripening. Reds are rich in both fruit and terroir, with ample but integrated structure; whites are vibrant and pure |
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Vintage2014 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionAn inconsistent year, with rain in June and July leading to disease pressure. Fine weather in August and September yielded excellent results for some growers, while others had more difficulty; reds more heterogenous than whites |
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DescriptionAn inconsistent year, with rain in June and July leading to disease pressure. Fine weather in August and September yielded excellent results for some growers, while others had more difficulty; reds more heterogenous than whites |
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Vintage2013 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionDry, cool growing season; vintners who picked quickly, ahead of late-season rains, were very successful. Reds are pure, ripe and focused; whites are gorgeously aromatic and lively |
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DescriptionDry, cool growing season; vintners who picked quickly, ahead of late-season rains, were very successful. Reds are pure, ripe and focused; whites are gorgeously aromatic and lively |
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Vintage2012 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSimilar in profile to the south, with reds marked by solid, ripe fruit and refined, lengthy finishes; the best should age well. Whites also excellent, though not as vivacious as '11. A very consistent year |
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DescriptionSimilar in profile to the south, with reds marked by solid, ripe fruit and refined, lengthy finishes; the best should age well. Whites also excellent, though not as vivacious as '11. A very consistent year |
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Vintage2011 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionEarly, warm start to the growing season, but cool, wet second half. Syrah performed well through harvest, which extended late; more consistent than the south, with many excellent wines |
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DescriptionEarly, warm start to the growing season, but cool, wet second half. Syrah performed well through harvest, which extended late; more consistent than the south, with many excellent wines |
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Vintage2010 |
Score98 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionCool, wet spring resulted in historically low yields, but excellent growing season backed by well-timed September rain and late Indian summer led to a late harvest of terrific quality. Reds are racy and loaded with minerality; even better defined than '09. Whites are bright, with gorgeous definition; better than '06 |
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DescriptionCool, wet spring resulted in historically low yields, but excellent growing season backed by well-timed September rain and late Indian summer led to a late harvest of terrific quality. Reds are racy and loaded with minerality; even better defined than '09. Whites are bright, with gorgeous definition; better than '06 |
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Vintage2009 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm, dry season led to early harvest, but mid-August rain and cool nights kept grapes fresh. Reds are rich and polished, whites ripe and rounded; excellent overall and very consistent, with normal yields |
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DescriptionWarm, dry season led to early harvest, but mid-August rain and cool nights kept grapes fresh. Reds are rich and polished, whites ripe and rounded; excellent overall and very consistent, with normal yields |
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Vintage2008 |
Score86 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCool, gray season made ripening reds difficult. Some successes, but many lean, herb-inflected wines; whites are excellent, with ripe tropical fruit flavors and tangy acidity. A tough year, but better than '02 |
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DescriptionCool, gray season made ripening reds difficult. Some successes, but many lean, herb-inflected wines; whites are excellent, with ripe tropical fruit flavors and tangy acidity. A tough year, but better than '02 |
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Vintage2007 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionErratic growing season followed by perfect September that saved the harvest. Reds and whites are fresh, aromatic and forward in style; similar to '01, more consistent than '04. Strongest in Côte-Rôtie and Cornas |
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DescriptionErratic growing season followed by perfect September that saved the harvest. Reds and whites are fresh, aromatic and forward in style; similar to '01, more consistent than '04. Strongest in Côte-Rôtie and Cornas |
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Vintage2006 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRipe, fresh reds with open-knit structure, fine balance; whites are classics, combining best of '04 and '05 |
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DescriptionRipe, fresh reds with open-knit structure, fine balance; whites are classics, combining best of '04 and '05 |
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Vintage2005 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionAnother drought-influenced vintage, though cool nights helped to maintain freshness. Reds have classic structure for long-term cellaring; whites also dense and concentrated |
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DescriptionAnother drought-influenced vintage, though cool nights helped to maintain freshness. Reds have classic structure for long-term cellaring; whites also dense and concentrated |
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Vintage2004 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionControlling yields was key for reds, with some variable results; best are fresh and balanced, others are crisp and green. Whites, particularly Condrieu, are superb |
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DescriptionControlling yields was key for reds, with some variable results; best are fresh and balanced, others are crisp and green. Whites, particularly Condrieu, are superb |
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Vintage2003 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionTorrid heat wave produced a small crop with wide-ranging quality, from exotically ripe to acid-deficient. Whites show lots of tropical fruit, oily textures |
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DescriptionTorrid heat wave produced a small crop with wide-ranging quality, from exotically ripe to acid-deficient. Whites show lots of tropical fruit, oily textures |
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Vintage2002 |
Score82 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionRain made it hard to pick ripe and clean reds; many show herb and tobacco notes with tough tannins. Whites harvested in time though; some are outstanding |
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DescriptionRain made it hard to pick ripe and clean reds; many show herb and tobacco notes with tough tannins. Whites harvested in time though; some are outstanding |
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Vintage2001 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionGreat racy, rich whites in Condrieu and Hermitage; elegant reds |
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DescriptionGreat racy, rich whites in Condrieu and Hermitage; elegant reds |
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Vintage2000 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionClean and pure with good structure, but without the depth of top years |
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DescriptionClean and pure with good structure, but without the depth of top years |
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Vintage1999 |
Score96 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVoluptuous, silky vintage with stunning quality for Côte-Rôtie |
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DescriptionVoluptuous, silky vintage with stunning quality for Côte-Rôtie |
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Vintage1998 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionVery structured reds with good fruit, balance and concentration; now approaching their peak |
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DescriptionVery structured reds with good fruit, balance and concentration; now approaching their peak |
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Vintage1997 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionReds framed by burly tannins; starting to soften. Best in Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage |
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DescriptionReds framed by burly tannins; starting to soften. Best in Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage |
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Vintage1996 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionBig crop with high acidity; best are refined and elegant |
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DescriptionBig crop with high acidity; best are refined and elegant |
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Vintage1995 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionUnheralded year but red wines offer concentration and length; whites are also very good to outstanding |
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DescriptionUnheralded year but red wines offer concentration and length; whites are also very good to outstanding |
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|
Notable older vintages: 1990, 1989, 1985, 1982, 1979, 1978, 1976, 1969, 1966, 1964, 1961, 1959 | |||||||||
Vintage ratings: 95-100, classic; 90-94, outstanding; 85-89, very good; 80-84, good; 75-79, mediocre; 50-74, not recommended
A score range indicates preliminary analysis based on barrel samples and/or a limited sampling; many wines of the vintage not yet reviewed.
Drinkability: "NYR" means the vintage has not yet been released; "drink" means most of the wines of the vintage are ready to drink; "hold" means most of the ageworthy wines have yet to fully mature; "past peak" means most of the wines are declining rather than improving.
SOURCE: WINE SPECTATOR
