Northern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring wines
You can feel the sun in these wines says Matt Walls with the hot 2019 vintage producing some unbalanced, overripe wines - however, there are many that are enjoyable, rich and opulent, with more freshness and elegance compared to 2018.
Northern Rhône 2019
Overall rating 4/5
A very hot, dry growing season resulting in some rich, opulent reds – sometimes overripe and alcoholic. Côte-Rôtie leads the pack, with Hermitage not far behind.
Northern Rhône 2019 wine of the vintage: Domaine Jamet, Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, 2019
The Northern Rhône experienced similar conditions to the Southern Rhône in 2019 – a year marked by heat and drought.
The heat spikes weren’t quite so high however, with the temperature rarely topping 40 ̊ C – but you still feel the sun in the wines.
Neither was the lack of water quite so extreme, with showers at the end of July and the middle of August helping to maintain steady ripening.
’The biggest problem was the build-up of sugars,’ says Jean-Louis Chave. With potential alcohol levels sky-rocketing at the end of the season, it was producers that could exert precise control over picking dates that prospered.
Scroll down to see Matt’s top Northern Rhône 2019 tasting notes and scores
Quick links Northern Rhône
Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines:
Stylistically, 2019 is similar to 2018, but a little fresher and more elegant. The wines enjoy a little more acidity and carry less weight around the middle. Hot vintages can sometimes obscure the signature of each appellation, but that’s not the case in 2019.
Top performers
Except for some mighty Hermitage, the finest 2019 reds are largely found to the far north of the Northern Rhône; whites tended to do better towards its southern pole.
Côte-Rôtie had a little more rain than most, and it seemed to make all the difference; the top wines are closer to 2017 in style than 2018.
Saint-Josephs from the northern part of the appellation also fared well.
Further south, the heat proved more problematic, resulting in some unbalanced, overripe wines, especially around Cornas. Crozes-Hermitage was twice hit by hail, as if the vintage wasn’t challenging enough.
When it comes to whites, Marsanne and Roussanne performed better than Viognier.
Hermitage is head and shoulders above other Northern Rhône whites in 2018, but there are some enjoyable wines to be found in Saint-Joseph at more accessible prices. It was an awkward year in Condrieu and Saint-Péray; there are some good wines, but buy with care.
With Covid-related travel restrictions in place in 2020, I was very lucky to have been able to visit the Rhône to get the full story.
That said, it wasn’t possible to visit all the domaines I would have liked to; understandably, some domaines such as Clape and Yves Gangloff weren’t available to visit. I’ll pick these up in bottle in due course.
See Matt’s top Northern Rhône 2019 tasting notes and scores
The following list comprises wines that scored 96 points and above. There are also 20 wines that scored 95 points and 28 that scored 94 points.
See also
Rhône 2019 En Primeur: Full report
Southern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring wines
Domaine Jamet, Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
You hope for a few vintages like this in your life, says Jean-Paul Jamet. This is Domaine Jamet's only single-vineyard bottling, made every year. ...
2019
Domaine JametCôte-Rôtie
M Chapoutier, L'Ermite, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Driving sparky freshness, it seems to explode from the glass. This smells somehow salty, mineral, very intense, so straight and energetic with a thrilling tension....
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Domaine Jamet, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Jean-Paul Jamet said '2019 gave wines in the style that I like to make'. A step up from the 2018 vintage, the 2019 is...
2019
Domaine JametCôte-Rôtie
Delas Frères, Les Bessards, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Remarkable tannic finesse is immediately apparent, teamed with great freshness, good acidity and deep concentration.There is a great sense of focus and direction and this...
2019
Delas FrèresHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Pavillon, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
This has the silky, flowing, thoroughbred style of Le Pavillon - incredible tannic finesse, but so big and shot through with ripe tannin. The alcohol...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Château-Grillet, Château-Grillet, Rhône, France, 2019
A real burst of fresh apricot and peach, lemon verbena and green tea. Impressively full-bodied and round in the mouth, this has the real salt...
2019
Château-GrilletChâteau-Grillet
Delas Frères, La Landonne, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Immediately this has the darkness and aromatic austerity of La Landonne. Very full-bodied, expansive on the palate with mouthcoating flavour and tannin but not heavy....
2019
Delas FrèresCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, La Côte Blonde, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Lifted pink peppercorns here - a spicy and floral aromatic display. Medium-to-full bodied, far from massive with exceptional tannic elegance, huge length and a touch...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, La Viallière, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
So round and charming - great elegance here with plentiful tannins but so fine, this really is special. It has great finesse and silky length,...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
E Guigal, La Turque, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Highly spicy, with attractive star anise and cinnamon notes to the black fruits. Velvety on the palate, but this has serious structure. It feels embryonic...
2019
E GuigalCôte-Rôtie
E Guigal, La Landonne, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Dark, opaque colour. This has that closed, dark austerity you would expect. Gently sweet with a touch of Lapsang Souchong tea in the background -...
2019
E GuigalCôte-Rôtie
E Guigal, Ex-Voto, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A dense, aromatically imposing wine despite the fact it's fairly closed at this early stage, giving little away. Very full-bodied indeed, full of fat and...
2019
E GuigalHermitage
M Chapoutier, L'Ermite, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Very opulent for L’Ermite with a lower acidity than normal. The granitic freshness really helps in this vintage and you can somehow smell the saltiness....
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A tasting of barrel samples of different lieux-dits: Péléat, Beaumes, Ermite, Le Méal, Bessards. Long, slow fermentations due to the high potential alcohols this year,...
2019
Domaine JL ChaveHermitage
Ferraton Père & Fils, Le Méal, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
This is very much keeping its aromas to itself for now. On the palate it is smooth, silky, full-bodied and dense. This has great driving...
2019
Ferraton Père & FilsHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Méal, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
There's a gently resinous aspect to the savoury blackberry fruit alongside menthol and blackcurrant bush. A very powerful, muscular year, this has a huge tannic...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Benjamin & David Duclaux, Coteau de Tupin, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
A distinctly herbal style of Côte-Rôtie. Medium-bodied, very fresh, with a vibrant palate shot through with sappy acidity. Tannins are robust, ripe, gently fibrous but...
2019
Benjamin & David DuclauxCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Rostaing, La Viallière, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Stylish, floral nose, partly from the whole bunch, party from the site. Very pure, gentle and velvety with dark fruit and tight tannins. Good acidity,...
2019
Domaine RostaingCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Rostaing, Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Has the deep red rose aroma that characterises this plot, peppery with a soft, velvety palate - this is gentle and welcoming. Acidity slightly lower...
2019
Domaine RostaingCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Lancement, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
A compelling blend of spice, smoke and florality. Full-bodied, but not overly fat or alcoholic. Has the lift and precision you would hope for, lovely...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Côte Bodin, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Very floral character, gentle with a lovely acidity. This has imperceptibly fine tannins and an amazing floral lift, very Côte Blonde in spirit, even if...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Pierre Gaillard, Esprit de Blonde, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Incredible, soaring, perfumed fragrance, violets, incense and star anise. Fresh and pure on the palate, with fine tannins and a little sappy, balsamic back note...
2019
Pierre GaillardCôte-Rôtie
Domaine JL Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A tasting of barrel samples of different lieux-dits: Les Rocoules, Péléat and Ermite paint a picture of an exceptionally rich and opulent white Hermitage, with...
2019
Domaine JL ChaveHermitage
Ferraton Père & Fils, Le Reverdy, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A little buttered popcorn on the nose from the oak, over the pear and yellow plum fruit. There's some ingrained vanilla too. Full-bodied, rounded and...
2019
Ferraton Père & FilsHermitage
M Chapoutier, Le Méal Blanc, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A rich and textural style with a gently smoky element running through it. Fresher than de l'Orée this year, but still massively rich and concentrated...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
Delas Frères, Ligne de Crete, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Plum, damson and blackberry coulis. Dense fruit, very fine tannins and a seamless texture. The alcohol here is quite high, but it's a very impressive...
2019
Delas FrèresHermitage
Domaine du Colombier, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Curious nose - menthol, hay, plum and iodine, but mainly dense black fruit coulis. Fresh, palate-coating fruit and thick tannin base with a smoky hint...
2019
Domaine du ColombierHermitage
Domaine Yann Chave, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Glass-staining purple colour. Incredibly powerful with searching perfume, leaf tea and glove leather behind the intense black fruits. Very fine and deep, perhaps just a...
2019
Domaine Yann ChaveHermitage
Ferraton Père & Fils, Les Dionnières, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
Some tangy berry coulis can be coaxed out with air, but it's very closed for now. Very dense with fine tannins. Huge power and concentration,...
2019
Ferraton Père & FilsHermitage
E Guigal, Ex-Voto, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
The fruit does just about match the oak this year. This has the rounded, muscular form of Hermitage, with very bright, ripe berry fruit, gently...
2019
E GuigalHermitage
M Chapoutier, Les Greffieux, Hermitage, Rhône, France, 2019
A distinct smoky vein running through this year. Powerful, very ripe, muscular but juicy with great freshness and power. The alcohol is slightly raised, but...
2019
M ChapoutierHermitage
