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Vintage Charts

France

FranceRhône/Southern

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Vintage Score Drink Window Description
Vintage
2020
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

A mild winter followed by a hot, dry summer with slightly cooler nights led to wines with good freshness and balance. Ideal harvest conditions resulted in a stress-free vintage with solid yields. With generous, supple fruit profiles and accessible tannins, the wines stand out for their immediate drinkability, though quality is more heterogeneous
Description

A mild winter followed by a hot, dry summer with slightly cooler nights led to wines with good freshness and balance. Ideal harvest conditions resulted in a stress-free vintage with solid yields. With generous, supple fruit profiles and accessible tannins, the wines stand out for their immediate drinkability, though quality is more heterogeneous
Vintage
2019
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

A wet winter set the table for the region’s vineyards to get through the hot, dry growing season, with Grenache and Mourvèdre excelling as harvest lingered into early October. Reds are rich, ripe and expressive, with refined textures. A gorgeous vintage that just lacks the spine to be among the truly elite years
Description

A wet winter set the table for the region’s vineyards to get through the hot, dry growing season, with Grenache and Mourvèdre excelling as harvest lingered into early October. Reds are rich, ripe and expressive, with refined textures. A gorgeous vintage that just lacks the spine to be among the truly elite years
Vintage
2018
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description

Growing season marred by spring rains that led to severe mildew pressure, which severely hampered Grenache yields. Summer was hot and dry, with nights not as cool as usual, but there were no heat spikes. Reds are supple and velvety, low in acid, offering flattering, forward fruit
Description

Growing season marred by spring rains that led to severe mildew pressure, which severely hampered Grenache yields. Summer was hot and dry, with nights not as cool as usual, but there were no heat spikes. Reds are supple and velvety, low in acid, offering flattering, forward fruit
Vintage
2017
Score
92
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
A difficult flowering resulted in drastically reduced yields on Grenache. Crop ripened quickly in hot, dry conditions, leading to inconsistent quality. Best spots were cooler and later-ripening, with Syrah and Mourvèdre playing key roles
Description
A difficult flowering resulted in drastically reduced yields on Grenache. Crop ripened quickly in hot, dry conditions, leading to inconsistent quality. Best spots were cooler and later-ripening, with Syrah and Mourvèdre playing key roles
Vintage
2016
Score
99
Drink Window
Hold
Description
This truly rare vintage is a new benchmark. The growing season was warm during the day but cool at night, with an unusually large diurnal swing that led to slow, even ripening across all varieties while maintaining acidity. Reds are laden with fruit, yet extremely racy and fresh in feel; whites are pure, brimming with energy
Description
This truly rare vintage is a new benchmark. The growing season was warm during the day but cool at night, with an unusually large diurnal swing that led to slow, even ripening across all varieties while maintaining acidity. Reds are laden with fruit, yet extremely racy and fresh in feel; whites are pure, brimming with energy
Vintage
2015
Score
97
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Ideal spring conditions were followed by warm, dry weather through July and then heavy rains in August. Earlier-ripening Viognier and Syrah struggled a bit, while later-ripening Grenache and Mourvèdre excelled; reds are rich, ripe and full of powerful fruit. In the style of 2009 and 2007, with better definition
Description
Ideal spring conditions were followed by warm, dry weather through July and then heavy rains in August. Earlier-ripening Viognier and Syrah struggled a bit, while later-ripening Grenache and Mourvèdre excelled; reds are rich, ripe and full of powerful fruit. In the style of 2009 and 2007, with better definition
Vintage
2014
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Season similar to the north's, with a good start but then persistent rains followed by more humid weather through September. Earlier-ripening areas favored as disease pressures built steadily; sorting tables critical to cull berries, with yields markedly lower as a result. Trickiest vintage since 2008
Description

Season similar to the north's, with a good start but then persistent rains followed by more humid weather through September. Earlier-ripening areas favored as disease pressures built steadily; sorting tables critical to cull berries, with yields markedly lower as a result. Trickiest vintage since 2008
Vintage
2013
Score
89
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Cool but dry growing season, with Grenache yields drastically reduced once again and Grenache-reliant wines lacking some depth and ripeness; wines buttressed with Syrah and Mourvèdre are fresh, pure and floral-edged
Description

Cool but dry growing season, with Grenache yields drastically reduced once again and Grenache-reliant wines lacking some depth and ripeness; wines buttressed with Syrah and Mourvèdre are fresh, pure and floral-edged
Vintage
2012
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Small crop following severe coulure on Grenache, but the wines are fine-grained and lengthy, with deliciously ripe flavors; well-balanced and should cellar well
Description
Small crop following severe coulure on Grenache, but the wines are fine-grained and lengthy, with deliciously ripe flavors; well-balanced and should cellar well
Vintage
2011
Score
91
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Warm spring, but cool, wet weather in July and August led to uneven ripening; Indian summer saved the vintage. Grenache is light, but Syrah and Mourvèdre strong, so blending key; there will be some excellent wines, but heterogenous from domaine to domaine
Description
Warm spring, but cool, wet weather in July and August led to uneven ripening; Indian summer saved the vintage. Grenache is light, but Syrah and Mourvèdre strong, so blending key; there will be some excellent wines, but heterogenous from domaine to domaine
Vintage
2010
Score
98
Drink Window
Hold
Description
Cool, windy spring led to a drastically reduced crop; growing season marked by warm days and cool nights, with a late harvest resulting in beautifully ripe, racy, [i]terroir[n]-driven wines for aging. The spine of ’05 with extra flesh
Description
Cool, windy spring led to a drastically reduced crop; growing season marked by warm days and cool nights, with a late harvest resulting in beautifully ripe, racy, [i]terroir[n]-driven wines for aging. The spine of ’05 with extra flesh
Vintage
2009
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Warm, dry growing season, with heat wave arriving after veraison so ripening was fast but even; grapes retained acidity thanks to cool nights. Reds have pure fruit and polished tannins
Description

Warm, dry growing season, with heat wave arriving after veraison so ripening was fast but even; grapes retained acidity thanks to cool nights. Reds have pure fruit and polished tannins
Vintage
2008
Score
88
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Cool, wet spring and humid growing season saved by mistral at the end; a small crop, with many producers eliminating cuvées. Quality very heterogenous, but some excellent wines were made
Description
Cool, wet spring and humid growing season saved by mistral at the end; a small crop, with many producers eliminating cuvées. Quality very heterogenous, but some excellent wines were made
Vintage
2007
Score
95
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Ripe, rich, powerful reds thanks to long Indian summer at harvesttime. Grenache is heady and rich; Mourvèdre and Cinsault are key for balance. Best are hedonistic delights; though some are over-the-top
Description

Ripe, rich, powerful reds thanks to long Indian summer at harvesttime. Grenache is heady and rich; Mourvèdre and Cinsault are key for balance. Best are hedonistic delights; though some are over-the-top
Vintage
2006
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Ripe, pure and balanced reds, with fresh flavors and bright finishes.; in the mold of '04 and '99 but slightly more concentrated. Whites superb
Description
Ripe, pure and balanced reds, with fresh flavors and bright finishes.; in the mold of '04 and '99 but slightly more concentrated. Whites superb
Vintage
2005
Score
97
Drink Window
Drink or hold
Description
Third straight year of drought, with well-timed rain and mistral. Wines show concentration, purity and structure. Great cellaring potential. Rivals '98 and '90
Description
Third straight year of drought, with well-timed rain and mistral. Wines show concentration, purity and structure. Great cellaring potential. Rivals '98 and '90
Vintage
2004
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Another dry year, but not as hot as 2003. Small crop of balanced and very pure wines; far more consistent than 2003
Description
Another dry year, but not as hot as 2003. Small crop of balanced and very pure wines; far more consistent than 2003
Vintage
2003
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Hot, dry year made powerful, ripe reds. Rugged tannins need time, but best are superb; some inconsistency
Description
Hot, dry year made powerful, ripe reds. Rugged tannins need time, but best are superb; some inconsistency
Vintage
2002
Score
76
Drink Window
Past peak
Description
Tart, dilute wines due to torrential rain at harvest. Many producers declassified their crop
Description
Tart, dilute wines due to torrential rain at harvest. Many producers declassified their crop
Vintage
2001
Score
94
Drink Window
Drink
Description

Great vintage of racy, structured reds in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that have continued to put on weight as they evolve. Best are just starting to open up now
Description

Great vintage of racy, structured reds in Châteauneuf-du-Pape that have continued to put on weight as they evolve. Best are just starting to open up now
Vintage
2000
Score
93
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Powerful and rich; plump and ripe reds with silky tannins. Big crop, so not the structure of classic years
Description
Powerful and rich; plump and ripe reds with silky tannins. Big crop, so not the structure of classic years
Vintage
1999
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Syrah- and Mourvèdre-based wines offer lovely balance and length; Grenache-based wines less successful
Description
Syrah- and Mourvèdre-based wines offer lovely balance and length; Grenache-based wines less successful
Vintage
1998
Score
97
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Dense and rich; superb Grenache harvest led to blockbuster reds with ripe tannins
Description
Dense and rich; superb Grenache harvest led to blockbuster reds with ripe tannins
Vintage
1997
Score
81
Drink Window
Past peak
Description
Soft, easy early-drinking wines
Description
Soft, easy early-drinking wines
Vintage
1996
Score
80
Drink Window
Past peak
Description
Light, fruity, pleasant, early-drinking reds; some excellent whites
Description
Light, fruity, pleasant, early-drinking reds; some excellent whites
Vintage
1995
Score
90
Drink Window
Drink
Description
Many tough, tannic reds, but Châteauneufs are improving beautifully; rich whites
Description
Many tough, tannic reds, but Châteauneufs are improving beautifully; rich whites

Notable older vintages: 1990, 1989, 1981, 1979, 1978, 1970, 1967, 1966, 1961



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