Vintages

Question 1

2010 - Northern Rhone

Answer 1

Cool & Rainy conditions in Spring brought Coulure/Shatter and reduced yields. Growing season and harvest were warm with cool nights that allowed for slow and even ripening. Red are rich and structed with elevated acidity. Whites are balanced and complex.

Question 2

2011 - Northern Rhone

Answer 2

Spring was ideal but summer was cool and rainy. Warm conditions were overcome with poorly timed rain at harvest. Reds are balanced but red fruited. Whites are fresh and fruity.

Question 3

2012 - Northern Rhone

Answer 3

Cool & Rainy Spring weather lowered yields but the rest of the season was warm and dry. Reds are fruity with diminished acidity AND alcohol. Whites are ripe and round.

Question 4

2013 - Northern Rhone

Answer 4

Cool & Rainy spring not only lowered yields, but brought disease pressure. Summer was HOT and harvest was wet, also record late in arriving. All said however, reds are classic and red-fruited. Whites are concentrated with racy acidity.

Question 5

2014 - Northern Rhone

Answer 5

Spring was warm, but followed by a cool summer and hail. Disease pressure and Suzukii fruit flies damaged a lot of the crop. Necessary heavy sorting reduced yields. All said however, red are approachable and classic with elevated acidity. Whites are ripe with fresh acidity.

Question 6

2015 - Northern Rhone

Answer 6

The entire season was hot but the nights were quite cool and well-timed rains preserved freshness. Stems were also nicely ripe this year and allowed for more whole cluster inclusion tan you typically see. Reds are ripe & powerful while still being balanced and ageworthy. Whites are concentrated with tension between fruit and acidity.

Question 7

2015 - Northern Rhone

Answer 7

The entire season was hot but the nights were quite cool and well-timed rains preserved freshness. Stems were also nicely ripe this year and allowed for more whole cluster inclusion tan you typically see. Reds are ripe & powerful while still being balanced and ageworthy. Whites are concentrated with tension between fruit and acidity.

Question 8

2016 - Northern Rhone

Answer 8

A cool spring throughout. Hail in Hermitage reduced yields. Summer was HOT but fall ideal and ripening happened slowly and evenly. Reds are classic with lower alcohol and elevated acidity. Whites are fresh and energetic.

Question 9

2017 - Northern Rhone

Answer 9

An intense vintage. Flowering was cold and yields were reduced, especially in Condrieu. Summer was beyond HOT though and caused dehydration pretty much everywhere. Light rain just before an early harvest refreshed the crop however. Red are concentrated and rich with diminished acidity. Whites are opulent and show tropical flavours.

Question 10

2010 - Southern Rhone

Answer 10

Growing season was warm after a normally rainy and cold flowering. yields were small due to poor flower set and water stress. Thankfully cool nights preserved acidity and harvest was warm. Reds are structured and fresh. Whites are concentrated & precise

Question 11

2011 - Southern Rhone

Answer 11

The entire season was warm and had periodic heat spikes, with the exception of July, which was cool and rainy. Yields were high and maturation was uneven, prolonging the harvest, where late ripening varieties did best. Reds are inconsistent, but best examples are refreshing and fruit forward. Whites are fresh and light.

Question 12

2012 - Southern Rhone

Answer 12

Spring was cold and had irregular flowering, this led to low yields and uneven ripening. Summer was mostly dry with beneficial rains in August that revived the vines. Sorting was very important. Reds are balanced and expressive. Whites are full bodied with diminished acidity.

Question 13

2013 - Southern Rhone

Answer 13

Spring was QUITE cold, and rainy, leading to poor flower set and low yields, especially for Grenache. Harvest was extremely late bleeding into November. Reds are light and juicy with less Grenache included than typical. Whites are full of pure fruit flavours and elevated acidity.

Question 14

2014 - Southern Rhone

Answer 14

A promising spring was dashed with a cool summer and rains that lasted from summer through fall. Disease pressure was elevated and careful farming was needed, some grapes struggling to ripen. Reds are inconsistent but better examples are fresh with diminished alcohol. Whites are elegant with elevated acidity.

Question 15

2015 - Southern Rhone

Answer 15

Warmth through the season brought everything on a little earlier than typical. Cool nights and favourable harvest conditions preserved freshness and allowed flexibility of style. Reds are rich and structured with elevated acidity. Whites are fresh and ripe.

Question 16

2016 - Southern Rhone

Answer 16

Warm through the whole season with extra heat in summer and generally dry conditions that made for small, concentrated berries. Blessedly cool nights preserved acidity as well and timely rains around harvest prevented shriveling. Reds are powerful with elevated acidity. Whites are energetic and ageworthy.

Question 17

2017 - Southern Rhone

Answer 17

One of the driest seasons on record! Small, concentrated berries resulted after a poor fruit set. Areas of isolated frost and heat waves reduced yields significantly. Reds are fresh and ageworthy with less Grenache than typically expected. Whites are rich with elevated acidity.