NORTHERN RHONE 2019

Heat and drought were the defining characteristics of the 2019 vintage in the Rhône. The heat spikes were lower in the north than they were in the south, with temperatures rarely topping 40°C, but you still feel the sun in the wines. Neither was the lack of water as extreme as in the south, with showers in July and August helping to maintain steady ripening.

With potential alcohol levels skyrocketing at the end of the season, it was the producers that were able to exert precise control over picking dates that prospered.

Stylistically, 2019 is similar to 2018, but fresher and more elegant. The wines enjoy more acidity and carry less