Rhône Valley Vintage Chart & Ratings
By Andrew Jefford
Last updated: April 17, 2024
The vintage charts and harvest reports provided by the Wine Scholar Guild give you the ranking for every French wine region and vintage from 2000 to today. Andrew Jefford, award-winning wine journalist for Decanter Magazine and author of twelve books on wine including The New France has compiled information and written the vintage charts starting with the 2013 vintage. He is also updating information for the vintages prior to 2013.
Northern Rhône Vintage Chart
| Vintage | Quality | Drink | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Red: White:  |
Drink/Cellar |
Spring in the Northern Rhône was cool and very dry, with just a third of the normal rain total by the end of May: in the record books, only 2003, 1976 and 1959 had been dryer. From mid-April it became very warm, and flowering (from May 22nd) was fast and uniform, setting the scene for an early harvest. There was 90 mm of welcome rain in early June, and a little more rain in early July – but the heat was unremitting, with a heat spike in mid-June followed by another in mid-July (by which time an early véraison was underway). Nights, too, were hotter than usual, and blocked maturations were a problem in both Cornas and Hermitage. Fortunately there was more rain on August 15th, and this significant shower set maturation in motion once again. Not a moment too soon: harvest was underway from August 22nd for white and red wines alike (the staunchly traditional Clape began harvesting Cornas reds on August 23rd), and many growers looked for freshness from stem inclusion with the red ferments this year. At best, quality is very good to outstanding for sites where growers succeeded in keeping drought pressure (and sunburn) at arm’s length, but quality is uneven and the excesses of this record-breaking climate-change year are sometimes evident. |
| 2021 | Red: White:  |
Drink |
After a dry, mild winter, budburst came to the Northern Rhône on March 25th during a period of unusual warmth. Two nights of frost then followed as elsewhere in France, on the nights of April 7th and 8th. Côte Rôtie and parts of Condrieu were worst affected, whereas Hermitage was largely protected by frost candles. The dry weather remained in place – until May, when the rains began and continued, apart from short pauses in June, until the end of July (around 700 mm in total), worsened by intermittent hail, provoking severe disease pressure in the vines and giving growers a summer of unremitting work keeping vegetation in check. It was, too, a cooler-than-usual summer. Harvest took place in stormy conditions between mid-September and mid-October, and almost all growers found they had to chaptalize their musts. The style of the red wines is lean and sometimes green; white wines are a little better in quality in general, but still more acidic and less opulent than usual. |
| 2020 | Red: White: |
Drink/Cellar |
Autumn 2019 was very wet -- fortunately, as in general 2020 was a dry to very dry vintage in the Northern Rhône. Spring warmth began early (the almond trees flowered 10 days ahead of schedule), with budburst in mid-March; there was little frost, though, apart from minor losses on April 1st in Crozes-Hermitage. After a dry spring, May brought some welcome rain which, combined with balmy heat, produced a remarkable growth spurt in the vines. Flowering passed off successfully, and thereafter summer was hot and dry, with véraison coming as early as the first week of July on the hill of Hermitage. Drought was an issue as summer wore on, trimming yields everywhere and causing some sunburn losses in Crozes-Hermitage and elsewhere. The white harvest began on Hermitage on August 19th, and reds on August 26th; there was some helpful rain on August 28th. The harvest everywhere in the Northern Rhône was over by mid-September, whereas the Southern Rhône (normally in advance of the North) finished two weeks later. Quality is good and occasionally very good, with fresher acidity than many growers expected after the summer heat; mitigating factors included the autumn rains, no heat spikes and cooler nights than in recent vintages. |
| 2019 | Red: White: |
Drink/Cellar |
Winter was cool and dry, and budburst came around 10 days later than in the precocious 2018 season. Frosts threatened but in the end didn’t materialise in early April, and there was welcome rain in the middle part of the month; a violent gale caused some damage to the upper parts of Hermitage on April 26th, and stormy, cool conditions persisted right through to flowering in early June. This came to a head with a catastrophic hail storm in the southern half of Crozes-Hermitage on June 15th, destroying around half of the crop. After this turbulent start to the year, the summer settled down into the hot, dry pattern seen elsewhere; mid-August rains caused some rot in Côte Rôtie, but in general had a welcome effect. The whites were generally picked in beautiful early September weather (including Vin de Paille at Chapoutier – the first time for 10 years). A pulse of mid-September heat (up to 30°C) teased the reds on to full ripeness, while cool nights kept acidity fresh. The quality of both reds and whites looks outstanding, with vivacious acidity as well as richness, a high skin-to-juice ratio and (for the reds) beautifully lignified stems enabling the use of whole-bunch for growers who favour this technique. |
| 2018 | Red: White: |
Drink/Cellar |
A cold February aside, winter and spring were both mild and wet in the Northern Rhône; bud-break came with great warmth at the end of April followed by flowering at the end of May (with storms on May 30th causing some crop loss in Crozes-Hermitage). Summer was in general hot and sunny, and a heavy storm on August 11th was beneficial to the vines. Harvest began in late August for the whites, and early September for the reds, in beautifully clear and sunny conditions, and most growers were thrilled with both the quantity and quality of their harvest: a blend of the wealth and richness of 2017 with the vivacity and intensity of 2016. Condrieu is outstanding. Both red and white wines look set to age particularly well. |
| 2017 | Red: White: |
Drink | First, the good news: the Northern Rhône escaped the depradations of spring frost that caused such trouble elsewhere in France. The bad news, though, was that flowering was erratic, and a very early, very dry season led to reduced yields in any case, with small clusters and berries making for a harvest of concentrated, intense and often high-alcohol wines. Flowering for Viognier in Condrieu was particularly difficult, with crop reductions of up to 50%. After a harvest that was often three weeks earlier than normal, though, producers were in general very happy with quality, particularly for the red wines: rich, relatively low-acid reds. The whites are fat and succulent. |
| 2016 | Red: White: |
Drink | A mild winter and warm early spring gave way to cool and wet weather as spring progressed (March was as cold as January this year); hail struck Hermitage in April, cutting yields by two-thirds in some lieux-dits (such as Roucoules). The cool, wet weather persisted into summer, meaning that flowering was three weeks behind schedule and mildew threatened. In July, though, the tenor of the season changed with the onset of hot, dry weather; there was no further rain until midway through what proved to be an unusually hot and sunny September. October was fine, too, meaning a leisurely harvest of well-balanced, fresh and pristine red and white wines. |
| 2015 | Red: White: |
Drink | Both winter and spring were wet, but by June the clouds had gone and there was no more rain until mid-August. It was a splendid summer, with the Northern Rhône actually hotter than the Southern Rhône for most of July; August brought cooler nights. There was welcome rain on August 15th and in early September, followed by more fine, warm weather. Marcel Guigal declared 2015 the best vintage in 55 years and as good as 1929, 1947 and 1961. The reds are outstanding in all appellations, and whites very good save in the very warmest sites (such as Condrieu) where some chunkiness is evident. |
| 2014 | Red: White:  |
Drink | Spring was warm and precocious and flowering went well, setting a large crop. After that, though, summer turned cool and wet; there were episodes of hail in July and September in Cornas, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage, meaning that some growers in those regions had to pick prematurely. Hillside vineyards, in general, fared better than flat-land vineyards in this wet year. Whites can be good, but reds are often light and grassy. |
| 2013 | Red: White: |
Drink/Past peak | After a lingering winter, spring was gloomy and cool, with record rainfall in May. This was a dismal start to the season resulting in crop losses of up to 40%. June and July remained cool, and July was wet. August and September, by contrast, were beautiful months, hot and sunny, and since the crop was small much of the lost ripening time could be recovered. Harvest took place during the first half of October before further rain arrived. These conditions produced fine white wines: concentrated, fresh and aromatic. The reds are pure and shapely, but with high acid levels. |
| 2012 | Red: White: |
Drink | Very wet spring compromised flowering, reduced crop. Warm and sunny summer. Good harvest conditions. Sound, mature grapes. Red wines are supple, possess ripe fruit, soft tannin & complementary acidities. Not a vintage for the long term. Very attractive whites. |
| 2011 | Red: White: |
Drink | Ideal spring, healthy flowering boosted crop size. Cold and wet in late June & July, dry August, mixed September. Healthy fruit, generally sound mature grapes. Medium-weight reds with youthful charm, accessibility. Many excellent examples, best for mid-term aging. Fruit-filled, expressive whites ready now. |
| 2010 | Red: White: |
Drink | Flowering spoiled by rain, coulure reduced crop substantially. Dry & cool summer, slow maturation. Harvest extended into October. Highly concentrated, firmly structured reds with acidity & tannin, yet impeccable equilibrium. A vintage to cellar: patience will be rewarded. Whites offer intensity, substance & unusual tension. |
| 2009 | Red: White: |
Drink | Healthy flowering in good conditions. Sunny, windy & hot weather ran from July into August and advanced ripening. Reds with overt fruit, density & warmth; dry tannins need time to resolve. Superb Hermitage, Saint-Joseph. Diverse whites, some excellent, fruity & rich; best have balancing acidity. |
| 2008 | Red: White: |
Drink/Past peak | Difficult, warm, wet spring led to widespread mildew, reducing crop. Rain prevalent throughout summer, with unusually frequent hailstorms. Delayed maturation & extended small harvest. Lighter reds with higher acidity. Condrieu stands out. |
| 2007 | Red: White: |
Drink | Unusually warm, dry winter & early budburst. Well above average rainfall April to June. Precocious flowering & véraison (up to 3 weeks early). Reduced crop. Optimal conditions (sunshine, cool nights) from late August produced balanced, ripe reds & whites. |
| 2006 | Red: White: |
Drink | Abnormally cold, snowy winter. Cool, dry spring, very low temperatures for flowering caused coulure, millerandage. June heat wave continued into July, with hailstorms. Healthy harvest of mature reds, some with lower acidities, more forward than ’05. Notable Hermitage and Côte-Rôtie. |
| 2005 | Red: White: |
Drink | Balanced season without extremes. Concentrated wines with dense fruit, well-calibrated acidity, firm & ripe tannin. Top reds have considerable reserve, demand long cellaring. Delicious, elegant whites; exceptional Condrieu. |
| 2004 | Red: White: |
Past peak | A regular season with normal temperatures after two aberrant years. Generally high yields. Sound mature grapes of moderate substance delivering elegant reds. Cornas stands out. Harvest volumes rebounded from low ’03 levels are particularly generous at Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie. |
| 2003 | Red: White: |
Past peak | A year of high temperatures & low rainfall. Early, rapid flowering. Localized storms and hail in late July cut crop. Heat shriveled berries in August on most exposed slopes further reducing yields. Early small harvest of healthy grapes with thick skins. Deeply colored, concentrated, potent top reds with “baked” aspect, imposing tannins. Resemble ’83 or ’78 at best; some are over ripe. As with ’03 Bordeaux, divided opinions. |
| 2002 | Red: White: |
Past peak | Cold, dry spring, then hot late May. Stormy summer into September. Rot a serious challenge in some zones (e.g., Côte-Rôtie). Rain in late September, but North avoided the disastrous storms in the South. Reds lacking maturity and substance; whites better. |
| 2001 | Red: White: |
Past peak | Healthy flowering, green harvest common. Largely dry summer with cooler periods. Warm, not hot September extended ripening. Best reds showed intensity, reserve & tannic structure for long cellaring. |
| 2000 | Red: White: |
Past peak | Generous fruit set led to crop thinning and saignée to concentrate top wines. Reds of moderate concentration & longevity weaker than both ‘99s & ‘01s. Excellent whites. |
Southern Rhône Vintage Chart
| Vintage | Quality | Drink | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Red: White: |
Drink/Cellar | The meteorological themes of 2022 in the Northern Rhône were amplified in the South. Spring was, here as elsewhere, very dry (just 50 mm for the three months of March, April and May, for example, compared to the normal 150 mm) and then … the season became dryer still: summer was early, hot and arid. Storms broke on August 15th. But not just rain: parts of Châteauneuf were hit by fierce hail; Vieux Télégraphe, for example, lost its entire crop in half an hour. Fortunately the Mistral blew afterwards. It can’t salvage losses, of course, but it did ensure that injured vines and damaged bunches weren’t then ravaged by rot. Harvesting of white wines began almost immediately afterwards, on August 17th, and the first Syrah fruit for the red wines was picked on the 23rd. Given the force of the heat and drought, growers are pleased with the quality of what they have picked: the reds seem balanced, supple and lively, while the whites can even be fresh and aromatic. Everyone was surprised by how low the alcohol levels were – one positive effect (if you like lower alcohols) of blocked maturations. Over the valley as a whole, 2022 was the first year to (almost) match 2003 for number of days at over 35°C (95°F), while it had even more warm nights and still less rain that 2003 – yet many growers commented on how well the vines responded compared to the chaos of 2003. It is as if the vines have learned to adapt by slowing down their growth rates and maturity cycles, faced with the increasing regularity of these conditions. In drought years, too, deep-rooted old vines (of which the Southern Rhône has many) come into their own. |
| 2021 | Red: White: |
Drink | The contrast between the Northern and the Southern Rhône has never been clearer than in 2021, with the frosts of April 7th and 8th the only common thread. Frost is rare in the Southern Rhône, and came after balmy 19°C afternoons (29°C at the very beginning of April), catching the vines on the hop. The Syrah was the worst affected variety, with Grenache later proving prone to coulure at flowering. Both before and after the frosts, though, the Southern Rhône was as dry as the north was wet: just 100 mm during the first three months of the year; only 5 mm in June; and just 300 mm by the end of what was a rather cool summer; disease pressure was nonetheless lower here than further north. Rain came, finally, at the beginning of September. This is a vintage for those classical or nostalgic drinkers seeking Southern Rhône wines with higher-than-usual levels of acidity and restrained levels of alcohol. The whites are fresh, too, but with a slightly more assured style and weight, and a higher pleasure quotient, than the reds. |
| 2020 | Red: White: |
Drink/Cellar | Weather conditions in the Southern Rhône duplicated those in the North for much of the 2020 growing season, though there was some additional rain here at the beginning of June. More moderate heat in July and August than in either 2018 or 2019, plus some blocked maturation in dryer parcels, extended the growing season a little, leading to a ‘classic’ September harvest. Quality is good in general in a supple, silky, tender style which will drink well soon but age well, too, over the medium term. |
| 2019 | Red: White: |
Drink/Cellar | A cool start to the season and copious April rain was welcomed by growers in this perennially dry region; flowering from late May was languid but largely successful, the Grenache vines avoiding the coulure problems which marked 2015 and 2017. Most French regions experienced two heat waves in 2019, in June and July, but the Southern Rhône underwent three, with an August heat pulse, too. The June heatwave was the strongest, with temperatures reaching 42.5°C. The early-season rain plus cool nights throughout the summer, though, meant that the drought-resistant Grenache came through summer well, and the Southern Rhône was one of the few regions in France to record a larger harvest in 2019 than in 2018. Whites are succulent and vivacious, and the reds rich yet balanced, their sweet fruits vivified by both structure and freshness. |
| 2018 | Red: White: |
Drink/Cellar | The Southern Rhône in general has an earlier cycle than the Northern Rhône, and the very wet winter and spring conditions (600 mm of rain by mid-June: more than the average annual total) combined with less Mistral wind than usual meant rampant late May mildew attacks. These provided challenging conditions for the Grenache in many vineyards, with Ch de Beaucastel (for example) losing around half its average annual crop and Vieux Donjon 20 per cent. After that early season shock, a warm summer with a well-stocked water table followed by splendid harvest weather meant that growers could take their time and harvest at perfect ripeness. This was vital in the case of the Grenache, since the mildew attacks of early summer meant inconsistent ripening; in general, other varieties fared better and blends may include more Syrah and Mourvèdre than usual. Quality is good for both red and white wines, with low acidity, supple tannins and perfumed, seductive fruits, promising excellent mid-term storage. |
| 2017 | Red: White: |
Drink | As in the Northern Rhône, the Southern Rhône escaped major frost damage in late April, though some small parcels with poor air drainage were hit. The early season, though, meant that heavy rain in May caused extensive coulure for the ever-sensitive Grenache, with losses for that variety of between 30% and 60%. Syrah was less badly affected, and Mourvèdre unaffected. The rains finished by early June – and there was almost no further precipitation all season. Conditions at the end of June were very hot (a peak of 41˚C), and meant that véraison was underway by July 7th in Châteauneuf; thereafter the heat of summer eased back to normal levels. Growers report perfect ripening conditions with freshness as well as richness and little drought stress. Quality looks very promising for both white and red wines. |
| 2016 | Red: White: |
Drink | In contrast to conditions in the Northern Rhône, the Southern Rhône enjoyed a trouble-free start to the 2016 growing season, with an early vegetative cycle and warm weather punctuated by useful but not excessive spring showers. Coulure in the Grenache was less marked than in 2015. “It was the hottest summer during daytime but the coolest summer during nighttime,” reported one grower of the 2016 vintage, and this steady, even heat mitigated by brisk nights produced an outstanding harvest of generous yet fresh, perfumed and emphatically structured wines. These conditions suited whites as well as they did reds, and the wines have outstanding cellar potential. |
| 2015 | Red: White: |
Drink | A wet winter and early spring gave way, in March and April, to warm, dry weather, though some coulure (shatter) affected the Grenache at flowering. June, July and August were all hot and dry which caused some instances of blocked maturity, especially for younger vines. Storms came at the end of August and in September just as the heat moderated, but the weather was still fine enough for growers to be able to wait for perfect levels of ripeness. The reds are pure, ripe and rounded; whites combine freshness with richness and aromatic charm. |
| 2014 | Red: White: |
Drink/Past peak | Very warm early spring conditions led to early bud break and, eventually, a generous and precocious fruit set, especially for Grenache as it struggled to reassert itself after its troubled 2013 season. At the end of June, though, summer turned cooler, and the weather remained mixed throughout July, August and September, as brighter periods were followed by clouds and rain. Fastidious vineyard work, including crop-thinning for the Grenache, was necessary to make good wines, and this was complicated by the presence of Drosophila suzukii flies with their attendant risk of acid rot. After the early start to the season, harvest was relatively late, and this long hang-time made for some attractive, supple red and white wines for relatively early consumption. |
| 2013 | Red: White: |
Drink/Past peak | After a long, cold winter with freezing February conditions, spring was unseasonably cool and wet (twice the average rainfall) with catastrophically poor flowering weather for the Grenache. This resulted in losses of up to 70% of this key Southern Rhône variety. During June, the weather finally turned warmer, and July was hot and sunny with mixed but generally good weather thereafter. Nonetheless, harvest for most was in October. There are some good though atypical red wines due to an emphasis on Syrah and Mourvèdre and lighter-than-usual alcohol levels. The whites, by contrast, were good: pure, fresh and bright. |
| 2012 | Red: White: |
Drink | Erratic spring, irregular flowering, late harvest. Extremely dry April to July, similar to 2010. Rain at end of August controlled water stress. Variable levels of maturity often required several tries to pick ripe fruit. Mourvèdre struggled to ripen. Sorting also key to outcomes. Moderately concentrated reds with forward fruit & freshness, likely to develop in near term. Whites reveal ample fruit, definition & show well early. |
| 2011 | Red: White: |
Past Peak | Favorable spring, hot June with very early flowering. Cooler July, beneficial rainfall. August into autumn was particularly hot & dry. Compared to 2010, more sunshine hours, more summer days of high heat, greater precipitation. Excellent weather extended harvest into early October. Extroverted reds of moderate concentration and attractive fruit. Most accessible & drinkable early; top cuvées will keep for mid-term. |
| 2010 | Red: White: |
Drink | Significant reductions in Grenache crop due to poor flowering. Fully mature reds, alcohols equal to more flamboyant ‘07s, yet wines appear fresh, well-defined & balanced. Many reds will gain with cellaring; most concentrated ones are reticent now. Whites possess noteworthy concentration & uncharacteristic backbone. Both colors will have longer lives than is typical for Southern Rhône. |
| 2009 | Red: White: |
Drink | Rapid progression of growing season, hot & dry July, harvest commencing as early as mid-August. Water stress disturbed maturation of some sites; deep-rooted old vines handled conditions best. Full-bodied, powerful reds, elevated alcohol; Grenache with flavor of kirsch liqueur, some have a “roasted” aspect. Ripe, perfumed, fleshy whites to enjoy early as a rule. |
| 2008 | Red: White: |
Past peak | Challenging growing season (delayed ripening & problems with mildew) demanded skill & careful husbandry in vineyard. Best reds are moderately concentrated, restrained & elegant: a “cooler” style than typical. Gigondas, Rasteau are attractive. |
| 2007 | Red: White: |
Drink | Very early start to season; summer without rain. Ideal final stretch for maturation, without extremes. Reds with bountiful & rich fruit, fine tannins, lower acidity. Soft, round whites for early drinking. |
| 2006 | Red: White: |
Drink | Colder August than usual, cool nights. Some locales affected by storms. Syrah particularly successful. Balanced wines offering depth, freshness & finesse. Many Châteauneuf will develop further. |
| 2005 | Red: White: |
Drink | Extremely low winter precipitation balanced by April rains. Optimal season producing concentrated, structured wines with ripe tannins for long cellaring. Memorable Gigondas, red & white Châteauneuf. |
| 2004 | Red: White: |
Past peak | Some locales experienced heat & water stress, reducing yields. Châteauneuf & Gigondas are stars of vintage. They are more complete than leading Northern reds in ’04. |
| 2003 | Red: White: |
Past peak | Intensely hot from June through end of summer. Lower rainfall. Record temperature of 109° F at Orange. Harvest of white grapes 2 weeks early, reds picked as of late August. Very high sugars, especially inGrenache. Syrah, Cinsault, Carignan, Mourvèdre performed better as did older vines. Very generous reds, higher alcohols, marked tannin. Some are past peak, now taste “cooked.” Gigondas from cooler sites has aged better. Some impressive Châteauneuf, but not to keep further. Fat, rich whites enjoyable early. |
| 2002 | Red: White: |
Past peak | Normal summer & ripening arrested by torrential rain on 8 September, equivalent of annual precipitation in some areas; flooding in Gard & Vaucluse. Cooler, windy late September. Strict selection needed. Minimum alcohol level dropped for many red AOCs. |
| 2001 | Red: White: |
Drink/Past peak | Grenache experienced uneven flowering. Very hot end of August with intense Mistral wind. High sugars, sound pH & acidity; a few wines short of complete phenolic maturity. Lower volumes. |
| 2000 | Red: White: |
Drink/Past peak | Grenache experienced uneven flowering. Very hot end of August with intense Mistral wind. High sugars, sound pH & acidity; a few wines short of complete phenolic maturity. Lower volumes. |
| Quality | Chart Legend |
|---|---|
| Poor |  |
| Poor to Fair |  |
| Fair |  |
| Fair to Good |  |
| Good |  |
| Good to Excellent |  |
| Excellent |  |
| Excellent to Exceptional |  |
| Exceptional |  |