FranceRhône/Southern
| Vintage | Score | Drink Window | Description | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vintage2018 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionGrowing 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 |
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DescriptionGrowing 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 |
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Vintage2017 |
Score92 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionA 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 |
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DescriptionA 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 |
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Vintage2016 |
Score99 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionThis 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 |
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DescriptionThis 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 |
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Vintage2015 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionIdeal 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 |
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DescriptionIdeal 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 |
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Vintage2014 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSeason 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 |
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DescriptionSeason 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 |
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Vintage2013 |
Score89 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCool 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 |
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DescriptionCool 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 |
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Vintage2012 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionSmall crop following severe coulure on Grenache, but the wines are fine-grained and lengthy, with deliciously ripe flavors; well-balanced and should cellar well |
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DescriptionSmall crop following severe coulure on Grenache, but the wines are fine-grained and lengthy, with deliciously ripe flavors; well-balanced and should cellar well |
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Vintage2011 |
Score91 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm 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 |
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DescriptionWarm 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 |
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Vintage2010 |
Score98 |
Drink WindowHold |
DescriptionCool, 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 |
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DescriptionCool, 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 |
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Vintage2009 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionWarm, 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 |
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DescriptionWarm, 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 |
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Vintage2008 |
Score88 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionCool, 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 |
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DescriptionCool, 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 |
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Vintage2007 |
Score95 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRipe, 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 |
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DescriptionRipe, 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 |
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Vintage2006 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionRipe, pure and balanced reds, with fresh flavors and bright finishes.; in the mold of '04 and '99 but slightly more concentrated. Whites superb |
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DescriptionRipe, pure and balanced reds, with fresh flavors and bright finishes.; in the mold of '04 and '99 but slightly more concentrated. Whites superb |
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Vintage2005 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionThird straight year of drought, with well-timed rain and mistral. Wines show concentration, purity and structure. Great cellaring potential. Rivals '98 and '90 |
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DescriptionThird straight year of drought, with well-timed rain and mistral. Wines show concentration, purity and structure. Great cellaring potential. Rivals '98 and '90 |
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Vintage2004 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionAnother dry year, but not as hot as 2003. Small crop of balanced and very pure wines; far more consistent than 2003 |
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DescriptionAnother dry year, but not as hot as 2003. Small crop of balanced and very pure wines; far more consistent than 2003 |
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Vintage2003 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionHot, dry year made powerful, ripe reds. Rugged tannins need time, but best are superb; some inconsistency |
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DescriptionHot, dry year made powerful, ripe reds. Rugged tannins need time, but best are superb; some inconsistency |
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Vintage2002 |
Score76 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionTart, dilute wines due to torrential rain at harvest. Many producers declassified their crop |
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DescriptionTart, dilute wines due to torrential rain at harvest. Many producers declassified their crop |
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Vintage2001 |
Score94 |
Drink WindowDrink or hold |
DescriptionGreat 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 |
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DescriptionGreat 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 |
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Vintage2000 |
Score93 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionPowerful and rich; plump and ripe reds with silky tannins. Big crop, so not the structure of classic years |
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DescriptionPowerful and rich; plump and ripe reds with silky tannins. Big crop, so not the structure of classic years |
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Vintage1999 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionSyrah- and Mourvèdre-based wines offer lovely balance and length; Grenache-based wines less successful |
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DescriptionSyrah- and Mourvèdre-based wines offer lovely balance and length; Grenache-based wines less successful |
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Vintage1998 |
Score97 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionDense and rich; superb Grenache harvest led to blockbuster reds with ripe tannins |
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DescriptionDense and rich; superb Grenache harvest led to blockbuster reds with ripe tannins |
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Vintage1997 |
Score81 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionSoft, easy early-drinking wines |
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DescriptionSoft, easy early-drinking wines |
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Vintage1996 |
Score80 |
Drink WindowPast peak |
DescriptionLight, fruity, pleasant, early-drinking reds; some excellent whites |
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DescriptionLight, fruity, pleasant, early-drinking reds; some excellent whites |
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Vintage1995 |
Score90 |
Drink WindowDrink |
DescriptionMany tough, tannic reds, but Châteauneufs are improving beautifully; rich whites |
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DescriptionMany tough, tannic reds, but Châteauneufs are improving beautifully; rich whites |
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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
