2011 Rhône Valley Vintage

A very warm and dry spring across the Rhone sent the vines ahead at a rapid pace. In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, April, May and June were very hot and dry, bringing flowering 12 days earlier than in 2010. July then turned cool in the south: Nicole Sierra-Rolet of Chene Bleu, in the Ventoux, said "July was unseasonably cold and that slowed things down significantly," and at Chateau de Beaucastel in Chateauneuf-du-Pape July was partly rainy and cool, with mistral right after the rain so the vines did not suffer water stress. Heat returned in August, bringing some shriveled berries and stalled ripening, before early September rains cooled the vineyards and a long Indian summer ran through October. Chateauneuf-du-Pape recorded 72 days above 30 C against 55 in 2010, and 125 mm of rain between 10 June and 10 September against 30 mm a year earlier. July and August there averaged 22.6 C with 103.5 mm of rain, which was ideal for the vines. In the north, two heavy rains in early September damaged the potential by dilution. Chateauneuf-du-Pape's harvest was expected to be very early but turned out just like a normal year, spread from the second week of August at some wineries to the beginning of October for late-ripening varieties and terroirs. The yield was a normal 33 hl/ha after several low-volume years, and yields were normal for most southern growers; in the north, the yield was high.

• Chateauneuf-du-Pape: very hot, dry April to June; flowering 12 days ahead of 2010
• South: a cool July at Chene Bleu and Beaucastel; heat returned in August
• Early September rains, then a long Indian summer through October
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape yield a normal 33 hl/ha; in the north, the yield was high

The north, where Syrah is the lead red, also looked excellent, though some growers felt they had just missed a truly great harvest. Philippe Guigal of E. Guigal in Ampuis said: "In mid-August, the vineyards were correct, but nothing more. Then outstanding weather cleared the vineyards of disease pressure and concentrated the grapes. At the start of September things looked absolutely splendid." Two heavy early September rains then diluted the potential, and higher yields put a premium on vineyard work, since heavier crop loads can worsen that dilution. Stephane Ogier said green harvesting would be critical to making the top wines. Northern whites looked strong, with many picked before the rains. Domaine Georges Vernay picked Condrieu parcels at more than 14 degrees potential alcohol on 31 August, then paused until 7 September to pick reds in St.-Joseph, continuing with Condrieu in the mornings and Cote-Rotie in the afternoons.

• Vineyards only correct in mid-August, splendid by the start of September, then diluted by two heavy rains
• Higher yields made green harvesting critical
• Many northern whites were picked before the early September rains
• Georges Vernay began Condrieu on 31 August at more than 14 degrees potential alcohol

Yields were normal for most southern growers, where Grenache is the lead red grape, and there was a real choice of styles. Thierry Sabon of Clos du Mont-Olivet in Chateauneuf-du-Pape said: "Each winery could choose between harvesting quite early to keep a natural acidity and a classic balance, or harvest very ripe for a more modern style." Isabel Ferrando of Domaine St.-Prefert bled some tanks for concentration, kept more stems than ever for density, and compared the vintage to 2000 and 1998. At Chateau de Beaucastel the harvest ended up quite late despite the warm spring; as of 21 September the Syrah was in and Grenache had just started, with good acidity and alcohol in line with 2010. For Chateauneuf-du-Pape alone, the forecast was 100,000 hl of red and a little more than 5,000 hl of white from 350 wine-makers on 3,160 hectares.

• Pick early for acidity and classic balance, or very ripe for a more modern style
• Beaucastel: a quite late harvest despite the warm spring; acidity good, alcohol in line with 2010
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape forecast: 100,000 hl red, a little over 5,000 hl white, 350 wine-makers, 3,160 ha
• Domaine St.-Prefert compared 2011 to 2000 and 1998

Wine Spectator's November 2011 report found most Rhone vintners exceedingly optimistic for a third straight outstanding year, though a handful regretted some late rains and heat that blemished what could have been a perfect growing season. In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, wines from the first half of the harvest were well balanced and fresh, with lots of fruit, and the second half more concentrated, dense and full-bodied. Cambie, a consulting enologist in the Rhone Valley, reported good September weather but fragile grapes that needed a lot of sorting, and called it a vintage of the winegrower, with very good and less good wines. Marc Perrin tentatively compared 2011 to 2000.

• Wine Spectator: most vintners optimistic for a third straight outstanding year
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape: earlier picks fresh and fruity, later picks concentrated and full-bodied
• Cambie: a vintage of the winegrower, with very good and less good wines