2013 Rhône Valley Vintage

A cold spring led to a difficult flowering and delayed the harvest. In Vinsobres, an exceptionally cold spring held back the start of the growth cycle; the vines kept growing until August and only began concentrating on their fruit in September. In Cornas, Alberic Mazoyer of Domaine Alain Voge said the hillside vineyards "positively relished the copious spring rainfall." Coulure hit Grenache in the south and Viognier in the north hardest. Mildew pressure was heavy early in June, but drier, warmer weather prevailed over the second half of the season and allowed producers to get healthy grapes. The valley's naturally dry and windy climate kept the vineyards in perfect health. Harvest was spread over a long period, from the first days of September to the very end of October, an average of 3 weeks later than over the last decade and a return to the norm of the 1970s. It was among the latest ever: an early October rain triggered most of the picking, and with more rain forecast a week later, few producers took extra risks. A few localised spells of rain did nothing to spoil grape quality. A major reduction in volume made 2013 one of the smaller harvests, and quantities were low everywhere.

Wine Spectator judged that quality in the Northern Rhone could be excellent, with Syrah the promising grape and Viognier, hit hard by coulure, among the most variable. Xavier Gomart, managing director of the Cave de Tain, believes 2013 follows 2011 and 2012 to complete an unbroken series of trouble-free years for the northern appellations. In Cornas, Alberic Mazoyer of Domaine Alain Voge said: "Saint-Péray whites are showing superb quality, and Cornas wines are also well-coloured and show excellent balance." Philippe Guigal of E. Guigal in Ampuis, a Cote-Rotie producer, told Wine Spectator "In 2013 we never stopped the harvest" and "We went fast, got everything in before the second rain in October."

Wine Spectator found the south a bit more variable than the north. Grenache was hit hard by coulure and had the most variable results, while Mourvedre and Syrah were the promising grapes. In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Marc Perrin of Chateau de Beaucastel called it "a very strange year": "We picked our Mourvèdre before Grenache and that rarely happens. Yields are really low, but if you did a good selection you brought in very healthy fruit." Inter Rhone's report also noted excellent Muscat grapes in Beaumes de Venise, superb Syrahs in the Ventoux, and reds with balance, fruit and harmony in Grignan-les-Adhemar.

Inter Rhone summed up 2013 as a vintage of well-coloured, well-structured wines with exceptional freshness. Moderate sugar levels meant lower alcohol than in previous years, well-balanced acidity helped colour, and maceration times gave good phenolic extraction in the reds. Whites and roses showed powerful, fruity flavours and good balance. In Costieres de Nimes the first wines showed plenty of colour and structure with ripe, elegant tannins, and in the Gard, Francois Dauvergne of Maison Dauvergne et Ranvier compared the vintage's fruit, freshness and elegance to 2007 and 2006. Michel Chapoutier, vice president of Inter Rhone, called it a really good year, while Philippe Pellaton, president of the Syndicat General des Cotes du Rhone, regretted that the harvest was so small.