N Rhone Vintage Flashcards
N Rhone
Excellent Vintages: 1980s
1982/83, ‘85, ‘88/89/90/91*
*Best of the consecutive bunch
N Rhone
Vintages to Avoid: 1990s
1992/93*/94, ‘96
*Worst vintage
N Rhone
Excellent Vintages: 1990s
1988/89/90/91, ‘95, ‘97/98/99
Northern Rhone
Vintages to Avoid:
2000-Present
2000, ‘02, ‘08*
*Good white wine vintage
Northern Rhone
Top Vintages:
2000-Present
2001, ‘05, ‘09/10, ‘15
Northern Rhone
Good but not Great Vintages:
2000-Present
2000 - Charming, plush wines that are drinking well now
2003 - Rich, hedonistic wines, acid is a concern
2004 - Firm, bright, classically styled wines, may show green notes with age
2006 - Classic, fresh wines
2007 - Light, forward, soft wines
2011 - Light, fresh wines
2012 - Lively, open, harmonious wines with silky, fine tannins
2013 - Light, bright, red fruited wines
2014 - Supple wines, some may lack color
1980 Northern Rhone Vintage
Early maturing vintage - past prime
1981 Northern Rhone Vintage
Early maturing vintage - past prime
1982 Northern Rhone Vintage
Good Vintage - Most wines are uninspiring but the top producers made excellent wines that don’t have much longer to live
1983 Northern Rhone Vintage
Excellent Vintage - Muscalur wines for the long-haul
•Cote Rotie bested Hermitage
•La Mouline was the wine of the vintage
1984 Northern Rhone Vintage
Poor Vintage - A bad year for every major appellation in Europe
1985 Northern Rhone Vintage
Excellent Vintage - Opulent and soft
•Cote Rotie bested Hermitage
1986 Northern Rhone Vintage
Poor Vintage - Most wines are firm and austere, but Guigal’s wines are charming
•A perfect harvest was spoiled by a rainy August and September
1987 Northern Rhone Vintage
Average Vintage - Lighter styled wines best suited for early drinking
1988 Northern Rhone Vintage
Excellent Vintage - Overshadowed by ‘89/90, but the majestic Cote Roties are for long aging
1989 Northern Rhone Vintage
Legendary Vintage - Lush, exciting wines
•Hermitage bested Cote-Rotie
*There was a heatwave that slowed ripening