Southern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring wines
Despite extremely hot and dry conditions, the 2019 vintage has produced plenty of delicious, rich and vivid wines that are well worth buying from the southern Rhône says Matt Walls.
Southern Rhône 2019
Overall rating 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.
Southern Rhône 2019 wine of the vintage: Le Vieux Donjon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, 2019
So how hot was it, exactly? Well on 28th June 2019, the temperature in Gallargues-le-Montueux near Nîmes hit 45.9 ̊ C, a new record for France.
It was also exceptionally dry throughout the Southern Rhône, with barely any rainfall during the summer months.
Hot and sunny weather is to be welcomed of course – grapes need to ripen – but nobody would hope for conditions like this.
Scroll down to see Matt’s top Southern Rhône 2019 tasting notes and scores
Quick links
Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines: coming soon
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Gigondas, Vacqueyras & Beaumes de Venise
Rasteau, Cairanne & Vinsobres
Lirac & Tavel
Inevitably, there are many unbalanced wines, with low acidity, excessive alcohol, and jammy or raisined flavours. But by no means all. There are also some delicious, rich, vivid wines that are well worth buying.
Weather conditions
Unusually, what made all the difference wasn’t what happened during the growing season, it was what happened before; in the words of Louis Barruol of Château de Saint Cosme, ‘a vintage is not just a summer.’
Heavy rains during the previous autumn and winter replenished the water in the soil, giving the vines access to just enough moisture to sustain them during the brutal summer that followed. Old vines with deep root systems in water-retaining soils could make the most of this; young vines, or those on free-draining soils, fared less well.
There are other mitigating factors. For a start, there was none of the devastating downy mildew that wreaked havoc in 2018. Neither was there any serious coulure like in 2017, so yields were high, helping to temper the climatic extremes.
There was no problem with ripeness, and vineyards had a clean bill of health at harvest. With no rot or threat of rain winemakers could choose their moment to pick with precision. And the time of harvest was crucial; potential alcohol levels escalated wildly towards the end of the season. Grapes were small, with thick skins, making for concentrated wines with robust tannic loads.
Top performers
Châteauneuf-du-Pape has a preternatural ability to cope with climatic extremes, and it is undoubtedly the best performing appellation this year. The best wines are hugely powerful, with velvety tannins and great vitality.
Gigondas had another very good year, as did other fresh terroirs such as Vinsobres and the northern reaches of the Southern Rhône.
It’s a less exciting year for Vacqueyras; too many wines have thick, leathery tannins. Often this is down to overextraction – a common miscalculation this year throughout the region.
White wines often excel in cooler vintages such as 2014. But I was surprised at the quality of many of the whites this year, they have a surprising intensity for such a hot year.
Again, it’s Châteauneuf that leads the pack, with good value options in Vacqueyras, Cairanne and Lirac.
Apart from some select Châteauneufs, the whites should be drunk straight away, and enjoyed for their youthful vigour and exotic fruit. When it comes to the reds, it’s hard to generalise. Many will be at their best when young. But the top Châteauneuf reds will age for decades.
The 2019 vintage will always be remembered for its heat, but it’s not the whole story. As the years roll on, some wines will age quickly, but others will surprise and delight for many years to come.
See Matt’s top Southern Rhône 2019 tasting notes and scores
The following list comprises wines that scored 96 points and above. There are also 24 wines that scored 95 points and 31 that scored 94 points.
See also
Rhône 2019 En Primeur: Full report
Northern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring wines
Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 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, Rhône, France, 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, Rhône, France, 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
Château La Nerthe, Cuvée des Cadettes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 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, Rhône, France, 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, Rhône, France, 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, Rhône, France, 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
Château de St Cosme, Hominis Fides, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 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
Alain Jaume & Fils, La Fontaine, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very smart indeed - fresh, perfectly balanced and a great expression of Roussanne - it captures its power, shows its affinity with oak, displays its...
2019
Alain Jaume & FilsChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château La Nerthe, Clos de Beauvenir, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
A quintessential expression of white Châteauneuf here. There's some dried pear and quince at its core, but the wine is dry and finishes long. Well-balanced...
2019
Château La NertheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine André Mathieu, La Centenaire, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
A soaring Châteauneuf - very harmonious, well balanced and long. Great vibrancy and freshness, with berry fruits and a lengthy, velvety finish. The wines from...
2019
Domaine André MathieuChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Clos des Papes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Low acidity, a little on the heavy side with pear, tarragon, quince, anise and touches of grapefruit and lemon verbena on the finish. Good length...
2019
Clos des PapesChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Les Safres, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
A refined and subtle Châteauneuf blanc, it's broad and full-bodied of course but it has a real inner finesse and precision. Very fresh, no excess...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Vieux Donjon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Pale coloured, the tiniest hint of pink. This is a delightfully fresh, floral, light and perfumed style, no artifice or oak influence on the nose....
2019
Le Vieux DonjonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de Beaucastel, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Restrained nose showing fruitcake aromas. Firm on the palate with an assertive tannic structure and plenty of fruit.
2019
Château de BeaucastelChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Beaurenard, Boisrenard, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Great purity and serious concentration without overt weight. A very powerful, complete, driving style of wine, big in tannin, acid and alcohol with a long...
2019
Domaine de BeaurenardChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Réservé, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Balsamic touches on the nose, with some dark chocolate and black cherry. It’s full-bodied, immense in size. There’s this huge driving effect from the rapier-like...
2019
Domaine de la Vieille JulienneChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine de Marcoux, Vieilles Vignes, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
The Vieilles Vignes cuvée is the flagship wine of Domaine de Marcoux. Pure Grenache, the 2019 was sourced from its two main plots: Charbonnières, on...
2019
Domaine de MarcouxChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine du Banneret, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Fresh crushed fruits with notes of cherry blossom and cured meat. Grippy tannins and crunchy acidity.
2019
Domaine du BanneretChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Giraud, Grenaches de Pierre, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very ripe indeed, but not overly so with massy, ripe sweet tannins. Deep and driving, full-bodied, but with a deeply ingrained freshness. Darkly fruited and...
2019
Domaine GiraudChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Juliette Avril, Cuvée Maxence, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Bright brambly berry fruits, with some raspberry making itself known. Very full and flowing - a lovely expression, that has a tapered finish ending light...
2019
Domaine Juliette AvrilChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine la Barroche, Pure, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very silky with mouthcoating fruit and tannin. This is powerful, packed full of fruit and acidity wit great finesse, but also muscle and an exceptional...
2019
Domaine la BarrocheChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Roger Sabon, Le Secret des Sabon, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Very dark, powerful, slightly tarry and roasted with a very intense - almost too intense - acidity. Surprisingly dark for Grenache on sandy soils, extremely...
2019
Domaine Roger SabonChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Domaine Saint-Préfert, Collection Charles Giraud, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Lovely vibrant nose, the Mourvèdre really makes itself known. Very full-bodied and flowing on the palate, but it's backed up by amazing vibrancy of fruit...
2019
Domaine Saint-PréfertChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Les Quartz, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Deep liquorice and tarragon freshness here, this has a voluptuous texture, very rounded and generous. Ends firms and powerful, it's a wine with plenty of...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Le Clos du Caillou, Les Safres, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France, 2019
Blackberry, star anise and juniper. Only medium-bodied for a Châteauneuf, but this has plenty of impact and intensity. Lovely bright acid line and sense of...
2019
Le Clos du CaillouChâteauneuf-du-Pape
Château de St Cosme, Le Claux, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2019
Very dense, somewhat earthbound for now with an extremely dense tannic structure. Great energy and salinity, very vibrant with a lovely acid structure. Will take...
2019
Château de St CosmeGigondas
Moulin de la Gardette, Ventabren, Gigondas, Rhône, France, 2019
Aromatically slightly subdued, though there is a sense of great freshness. Thyme emerges after a while along with a smoky bacon note. Fluid and fast-moving...
2019
Moulin de la GardetteGigondas
