Côte-Rôtie & Condrieu 2020: report and top-scoring wines
Matt Walls finds ripeness and fine tannins in the 2020 Côte-Rôties, with many drinking well already. While in Condrieu he finds finesse and drinkability, if a slight lack of concentration.
Tasting the 2020 Côte-Rôties reminded me of the 2016s – while some are on the light side, the wines are ripe with a fine tannic frame.
They are noticeably more slender and less potent than the previous few vintages and will drink well straight away.
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for the Côte-Rôtie & Condrieu 2020 top-scoring wines
Stéphane Ogier believes the cool nights were an important factor in the fresher style of the 2020s.
Pierre Rostaing says that the young vines suffered most from water stress, but so did those old vines planted close to the bedrock.
This year he picked ‘the smallest ever berries – unlike in 2021, when they were the biggest ever!’
His opinion chimes with that Jean-Paul Jamet’s, that careful handling was needed to avoid over-extraction.
See the Rhône 2020 full vintage report and top scoring wines
See all 400 Rhône 2020 tasting notes and scores
In Condrieu, yields were higher in 2020 than in 2019, making for a less intense, but more fluid and drinkable vintage.
Some lack concentration, but most producers have made wines with harmony and finesse. This is a consistent Condrieu vintage with plenty of good wines to choose from.
Alcohol levels are noticeably more moderate in 2020 than in the previous three vintages.
The 2019s will age well, but I would drink the 2020s young.
Quick links
Northern Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Coming soon: Saint-Joseph, Cornas and St-Péray, Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage
Côte-Rôtie & Condrieu 2020 key producers:
Domaine du Monteillet
Domaine JP Jamet
Domaine Rostaing
Domaine Stéphane Ogier
Domaine Xavier Gérard
E Guigal
Côte-Rôtie & Condrieu 2020 top value wines:
Domaine Christophe Billon, Les Matisses, Condrieu 2020
Domaine Niero, Les Ravines, Condrieu 2020
Domaine Xavier Gérard, Arbuel, Condrieu 2020
Domaine du Monteillet, Fortis, Côte-Rôtie 2020
Domaine Faury, Revinescence, Côte-Rôtie 2020
Domaine Xavier Gérard, Côte-Rôtie 2020
See the Northern Rhône 2020 score table listing Matt’s top 98 wines scoring 94 points or above
See Matt’s top Côte-Rôtie & Condrieu 2020 tasting notes and scores:
Related content:
Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Northern Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Southern Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines
Domaine du Monteillet, Chanson, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
Florality, citrus and fleshy stone fruit flavours. It's got a lovely mineral expression, perfect balance, great acidity and a long finish. What more could you...
2020
Domaine du MonteilletCondrieu
Domaine du Monteillet, La Grillette, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
Great salinity and tension here, even more noticeable acidity than his Chanson. Fleshy, keen, focused, very long. Straight, intense Condrieu. Stéphane Montez says the cuvée...
2020
Domaine du MonteilletCondrieu
André Perret, Chéry, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
This Chéry cuvée certainly has greater aromatic intensity than André's cuvée classique. It's very well balanced and vibrant, with surprising concentration on the palate. Lovely,...
2020
André PerretCondrieu
Clos de la Bonnette, Légende Bonnetta, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
Expressive, notes of peach compote, verbena and apricot pastries. Ripe, rounded and creamy with concentrated oak and juicy acidity on the palate. Long and pleasing.
2020
Clos de la BonnetteCondrieu
Domaine du Monteillet, Candice, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
A delicious, sweet Condrieu, with lemon posset and lemon curd notes. Full-bodied but with firm, balancing acidity. Three passes through the vineyard in October and...
2020
Domaine du MonteilletCondrieu
François Villard, DePoncins, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
Full-bodied, with quite noticeable oak at this stage. Wonderful sense of freshness, however, and great precision. Long, lush and generous yet defined, this is a...
2020
François VillardCondrieu
François Villard, Le Grand Vallon, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
Plenty of rich, ripe apricot and peach fruit, with lemon thyme and lemon verbena. Not overly full-bodied, this is more measured on the palate than...
2020
François VillardCondrieu
Pierre Jean Villa, Jardin Suspendu, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
Now this is good - it has serious fruit intensity, which helps to find balance when placed with the seriously rich, fulsome palate. It has...
2020
Pierre Jean VillaCondrieu
Stéphane Ogier, Les Vieilles Vignes de Jacques Vernay, Condrieu, Rhône, France, 2020
On the nose alone, this is clearly something special. Great intensity on the palate, it's focused and deeply saline. Concentrated, very fresh, with great energy...
2020
Stéphane OgierCondrieu
Domaine JP Jamet, Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Beautifully fragrant and floral, showing rose and violet characters. Super-fine, silky tannins and lovely acidity, this is an eminently classic Côte Brune, with flowers, cinnamon,...
2020
Domaine JP JametCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Rostaing, Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
A compelling rose fragrance, then such wonderfully rounded, juicy tannins in the mouth. Perfectly balanced and fresh, but explosive, long, flamboyant and captivating, with pliable,...
2020
Domaine RostaingCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Lancement, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Particularly compelling, this might be worthy of a higher score once bottled. Perfect acidity, great aromatic expression and amazing precision. Raspberry, olive and bay leaf,...
2020
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Domaine JP Jamet, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
A combination of separate lieux-dits which show a classic, fresh and focused vintage, with each component reflecting its origins with great clarity. It's an aromatic...
2020
Domaine JP JametCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Rostaing, La Viallière, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Beautifully detailed, floral, violet-scented nose; totally classic, tender and charming. Medium- to full-bodied, with cooling, fresh blackberry fruit. Super-fine, plentiful but elegant tannins and the...
2020
Domaine RostaingCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Bertholon, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Peppery rose aromas flow onto a seriously weighty, deep, rounded, powerful and dense palate. Muscular yet fresh, this is very similar to a classic Les...
2020
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, La Belle Hélène, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Beautifully floral expression, bright acidity and great upright thrust. So juicy and powerful, but such finesse and lightness of touch, also. Big, driving, burly tannins...
2020
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Montmain, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
From an old-vine parcel, this is peppery, fluid and fresh, showing bay leaf, rose and fine tannins. Not as powerful as his Champon or Bertholon,...
2020
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Xavier Gérard, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Wonderfully fresh and expressive, with a touch of black pepper hiding among the menthol and deep, dark berry fruits. Medium- to full-bodied, this has stacks...
2020
Xavier GérardCôte-Rôtie
Domaine du Monteillet, Les Grandes Places, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Very promising and dense, with great freshness and muscular tannins. Bold and intense, this is better than the 2019. Tannins are saturated with juice, all...
2020
Domaine du MonteilletCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Faury, Revinescence, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Intensely herbal, with rosemary, thyme, lavender and juniper. Medium-bodied, with plenty of concentrated black fruit and saturated, super-fine tannin. Long finish, well-balanced acidity, even if...
2020
Domaine FauryCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Garon, Les Rochins, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
A deep, dark, earthy style of Côte-Rôtie, clearly some clay in the soil here along with the schist, which fills out the mid-palate. Les Rochins...
2020
Domaine GaronCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Rostaing, La Landonne, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Classically dark, brooding fruits, this has length and depth, with good balance even though the acidity is quite low. With its intense and muscular tannins,...
2020
Domaine RostaingCôte-Rôtie
E Guigal, La Turque, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
This feels like a classic, with the weight and tannins necessary to help this age, but it's not as massive as some recent vintages. Star...
2020
E GuigalCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Cognet, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Dense, powerful tannins which are grippy but ripe, this is a very long, fresh and deep wine. 100% whole bunch from a hillside parcel of...
2020
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Côte Bodin, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Fresh, sappy and complete, with fresh berry juice acidity and sweet tannins. Beautifully delicate and floral.
2020
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Le Champon, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Very closed and extremely dense for now, this fresh but tight. The wine is long and powerful, with a great cut and dark chocolate tannins....
2020
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Tardieu-Laurent, Vieilles Vignes, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
An immediately enticing nose, with intense crispy bacon notes, ripe blackberry and toasted spices. Medium-bodied despite its intense concentration, the acidity isn't terribly high, but...
2020
Tardieu-LaurentCôte-Rôtie
Benjamin & David Duclaux, Coteaux de Tupin, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
A wonderful nose: rose and tobacco leaf, really attractive. Soft, easy-going, velvety style on the palate with mouthfilling fruit and well-balanced acidity. The alcohol is...
2020
Benjamin & David DuclauxCôte-Rôtie
Domaine du Monteillet, Bons Arrêts, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Dark fruits and cassis are wrapped up in fine tannins. No huge depth here, but good freshness, tension and lovely acidity. The oak has been...
2020
Domaine du MonteilletCôte-Rôtie
E Guigal, La Mouline, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2020
Sticky damson and plum fruit, just a little touch of prune in the mix. Medium-bodied with fresh, fine tannins; quite an ethereal style of La...
2020
E GuigalCôte-Rôtie
