1997 vintage guide for Red Rhone

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Red Rhone 1997: Drink now

Acidity was low and even Chateauneuf may not have produced wines for long ageing. Wines are soft, oozing pleasure, jam flavours. Versatile with food.

3/5

Weather Conditions

Flowering was early in the north, but June and most of July were cool and damp. August was hot but then unsettled weather returned. The best wines, which are very good indeed, were made by those who waited until October to pick. The weather in the south was similar, except that September was less wet and the grapes remained healthy if somewhat raisined.

Best Appellations

Northern Rhone: excellent Condrieu. Southern Rhone: acidity was low and even Châteauneuf may not have produced wines for long ageing. Estates with abundant Syrah fared least well.

Good, but not particularly noteworthy wines in the south.

Best Producers

A good vintage for Cote Rotie from Chapoutier, Clusel-Roch, Delas, Guigal, Rene Rostaing and Vidal-Fleury. Fine Hermitage produced by Chapoutier, Chave, Bernard Faurie, Jaboulet, and Marc Sorrel.