Rhône 2019 En Primeur: Full report
After tasting more than 1,300 wines for this year's Rhône vintage report, Matt Walls says 2019 is a powerful, ripe vintage showcasing a step-up in quality from 2018 with areas of localised greatness in both the north and south.
In Brief: Rhône 2019 En Primeur
Northern Rhône 2019
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.
Southern Rhône 2019
4.5/5
A swelteringly hot, very dry year that was surprisingly successful, especially in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, both reds and whites. Elsewhere there are mixed results; some excellent wines, others with unbalanced alcohol or tough tannins.
‘I would not describe 2019 as a ‘great vintage’ – it’s a vintage of localised greatness. ’
Scroll down for Matt’s top scoring Rhône 2019 tasting notes and scores
Best Producers in 2019:
Northern Rhône
Southern Rhône
See Matt’s top scoring Rhône 2019 tasting notes and scores
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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
Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2019
Gorgeous perfume just jumps out the glass here, strongly scented and inviting. This is succulent and sweet, with an almost cherry kirsch, alcohol kick to...
2019
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Bright and floral on the nose. The tannins are extremely fine, almost imperceptible, but very much present, giving the wine a strong base for long...
2019
Clos des PapesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Cristia, Chapelle Saint Théodoric 'Le Grand Pin', Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2019
A cooling, very fine style, a little gentler on the palate than their Guigasse, finer, but then like a peacock's tail on the finish. Long,...
2019
Domaine de CristiaChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Réserve, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2019
Captivating spice-led nose, this is a lithe, dynamic and athletic style of Châteauneuf. Very well balanced and focused with great aromatic precision. The alcohol is...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Vieux Donjon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very full-bodied with a lovely sweetness to the fruit, fine tannins and great freshness. Really shot through with juicy, sweet, chocolatey tannins and great concentration....
2019
Le Vieux DonjonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
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
Château La Nerthe, Cuvée des Cadettes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2019
Full-bodied, this has weight and presence but isn't overly fat or gloopy. Very firm but not austere in structure thanks to the pliant Mourvèdre tannic...
2019
Château La NertheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Janasse, Vieilles Vignes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2019
Lovely density of dark fruit, full and weighty on the palate. Powerful, long, concentrated and fresh. The alcohol is a little warming, but generally the...
2019
Domaine de la JanasseChâteauneuf-du-Pape
La Bastide St-Dominique, Secrets de Pignan, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2019
Silky and flowing, an elegant style of wine that's concentrated and fresh with fragrant thyme and black cherry flavours and a long finish that is...
2019
La Bastide St-DominiqueChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Mas de Boislauzon, Tintot, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2019
Very dark in the glass, this is soft and flowing with an earthy fragrance. Packed full of flavour and pliable, gentle tannin. The only minor...
2019
Mas de BoislauzonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
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, 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, 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
Château de St Cosme, Hominis Fides, Gigondas, Rhône, 2019
A seriously upright and skybound style, so much energy and very long. It's a seriously tannic wine this year, but elegant with it - and...
2019
Château de St CosmeGigondas
Château de St Cosme, Le Poste, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2019
Extraordinary tannic structure for a 100% Grenache, with intensity of fruit, salinity and great driving freshness throughout. Extraordinary depth and floral on the finish, violets....
2019
Château de St CosmeGigondas
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, 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
