1990 vintage guide for Red Rhone

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A great year in the northern Rhone, despite the near-drought conditions, and from the south sumptuous Chateauneuf

5/5

Weather Conditions

A great year in the northern Rhône, despite the near-drought conditions. Many growers, such as Guigal, had to continue harvesting well into October to ensure grapes were fully ripe. In the south, timely rain in August helped the grapes to ripen without too much delay, with harvesting beginning on 10 September.

Best Appellations

North: Overall ripeness levels were very high, and the vintage is as complex as 1983. A large healthy crop in Condrieu. South: Châteauneuf proved very sumptuous and powerful, but in many cases not quite as well balanced as the 1989s.

Best Producers

Guigal’s Cote Rotie was remarkably dark and brooding but there were many other elegant and appealing wines. Gilles Barge, Clusel-Roch, Yves Cuilleron, Jean-Michel Gerin, Robert Jasmin and Rene Rostaing all performed very well indeed.

Classic Hermitage from Chapoutier, Chave, Jaboulet and Marc Sorrel.

An excellent vintage in Chateauneuf for Beaucastel, Henri Bonneau, Clos des Papes, Domaine du Pegau, La Gardine, Les Cailloux, Montpertuis, Mont-Olivet, Rayas and Vieux Telegraphe.