Rhône 2020 En Primeur: full vintage report and top-scoring wines

In brief: Rhône 2020 En Primeur

Northern Rhône 2020: 4.5/5

A reliably fresh, balanced and approachable vintage – a return to classicism after a series of powerful years. Excellent white wines.

Southern Rhône: 4/5

Fresh, juicy and immediate reds with lower alcohol than recent years, though some lack concentration. Beautiful white wines.

‘These are wines that will provide huge amounts of pleasure, straight out of the gate. It is that rare thing – an excellent vintage for early drinking.’

At the heart of the 2020 Rhône vintage lies a paradox. If growing conditions were marked by heat and drought – like several of the preceding vintages – then why are the wines so very different in style?

If you’ve opened many 2019s, no doubt you’ll have tasted how the roasting summer resulted in vigorous, intense wines that are impossible to ignore. The 2020s, however, are distinctly different: fresh, vibrant and deliciously drinkable.

Scroll down for Matt’s top-scoring Rhône 2020 tasting notes and scores

The vast difference in style is a puzzle that continued to perplex me during my three weeks in the region, tasting over 1,200 wines.

Is it due to the lack of heat spikes in 2020? The cool nights? Or is it evidence that the vines are adapting to a new climate?

Frustratingly, there are no conclusive reasons why these vintages are so contrasting.

In the words of Vincent Avril of Clos des Papes, ‘it’s just nature – there is no explanation.’

Whether we can explain it or not, the effect is real – and felt throughout the entire region. It makes for wines with well-defined flavours that faithfully reflect their terroir. Alcohol levels feel lower this year than in the three preceding vintages, making for better balanced, more approachable wines.

Tannic structures are more substantial in the north, but quality is high in both the Northern and Southern Rhône. And not just red wines. Lovers of white Rhône will be thrilled – the 2020s have a rare fluidity and brightness.

This is the freshest vintage for white wines since 2014.

See all 400 Rhône 2020 tasting notes and scores

Coming straight after the imposing 2019s, it’s clear that the 2020s don’t share the same depth. Some wine come across as a little too light and easy-going in fact.

The 2020s are not as concentrated and rarely have the same length as the 2019s. If you’re looking for reds and whites with long ageing in mind and the complexity that brings, then 2019 appears to be the better option, at least at this stage.

But based on their development to date, I suspect these wines will continue to take on weight and harmonise as they finish their élevage. The best wines will still clock up a couple of decades in bottle; they will age on their freshness and balance, rather than density and muscle.

These are so deliciously approachable now, however most won’t last that long.

This is a vintage to buy now and drink while you’re waiting for your 2016s, 2017s and 2019s to develop. If that sounds like faint praise, then let me elucidate.

These are wines that will provide huge amounts of pleasure, straight out of the gate. It is that rare thing – an excellent vintage for early drinking.

Northern Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines 

Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu | St-Joseph | Cornas and St-Péray | Hermitage | Crozes-Hermitage

Last chance to buy E Guigal LaLas virtual masterclass tickets for Decanter at Home

Southern Rhône 2020 full report and top scoring wines

Châteauneuf-du-Pape | Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise | Rasteau, Cairanne and Vinsobres | Lirac and Tavel

Top producers in 2020

Northern Rhône

Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu

• Domaine du Monteillet
• Domaine JP Jamet
• Domaine Rostaing
• Domaine Stéphane Ogier
• Domaine Xavier Gérard
• E Guigal

Saint-Joseph

• Domaine Bernard Gripa
• Domaine Faury
• Domaine JL Chave
• Domaine Martine & Christian Rouchier
• M Chapoutier
• Vignobles Chirat

Cornas and Saint-Péray

• Domaine A&E Verset
• Domaine Clape
• Domaine Vincent Paris
• Cave Julien Cécillon
• Ferraton Père & Fils
• M Chapoutier

Hermitage

• Domaine JL Chave
• Domaine Laurent Fayolle
• Domaine Yann Chave
• E Guigal
• Ferraton Père & Fils
• M Chapoutier

Crozes-Hermitage

• Domaine des Hauts Chassis
• Domaine Laurent Fayolle
• Domaine les 4 Vents
• Domaine Marc Sorrel
• Domaine Yann Chave

Southern Rhône

Châteauneuf-du-Pape

• Château de Beaucastel
• Château Rayas
• Clos des Papes
• Domaine de Beaurenard
• Domaine de la Janasse
• Domaine de Marcoux

Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise

• Château de Saint-Cosme
• Domaine des Bernardins
• Domaine la Monardière
• Domaine le Sang des Cailloux
• Domaine Santa Duc
• Moulin de la Gardette

Rasteau, Cairanne & Vinsobres

• Domaine Alary
• Domaine Constant-Duquesnoy
• Domaine des Amadieu
• Domaine la Luminaille
• Domaine la Pequélette
• Domaine Richaud

Lirac & Tavel

• Château de Montfaucon
• Domaine d’Arbousset
• Domaine de la Mordorée
• Domaine des Carabiniers
• Domaine Lafond
• Moulin de la Viguerie

See the Rhône 2020 score table listing Matt’s top 110 wines all scoring 95 points or above

Last chance to buy E Guigal LaLas virtual masterclass tickets for Decanter at Home

See Matt’s top-scoring Rhône 2020 tasting notes and scores:

The following wines all scored 97 points or above. Wines are listed white then red in score order.