2016 Southern Rhône Vintage

Severe spring frosts hit much of France in 2016, but the Rhone was spared. In the south the growing cycle started fairly early but progressed gradually because of cool, dry conditions. The season started earlier than in the north, without the excessive humidity, with summer arriving earlier and flowering under nearly ideal conditions. The summer was very dry throughout, with just the occasional shower helping to ward off hydric stress. August was sunny and hot, and the heat carried into September until welcome rain and cooler temperatures arrived on 15 September. Cool nights offset the hot, dry days; Isabel Ferrando of Domaine St.-Prefert in Chateauneuf-du-Pape called it "the hottest summer during daytime but the coolest during nighttime". Many whites had already been picked, some from as early as late August. Red picking began on 12 September and continued into October, and growers who waited until after the rain had several weeks of warm, dry weather to pick each parcel and variety at optimum ripeness. Southern volumes were slightly up on a good-sized 2015, though some coulure on Grenache and drought conditions produced smaller berries with less juice, which meant lower yields. Across the Rhone Valley as a whole, winter was particularly mild with little sun, cool temperatures at the start of spring slowed vine development, and rainfall was regular if not copious. After a very dry summer, September rain gave fresher grapes at harvest, and grape health remained excellent. Inter Rhone expected a valley-wide harvest slightly larger than 2015 and within the fifteen-year average.

• The Rhone escaped the spring frosts; the southern season started fairly early and moved gradually in cool, dry conditions
• Flowering came under nearly ideal conditions, with an earlier start than in the north
• Very dry summer and a sunny, hot August; rain and cooler temperatures on 15 September
• Whites from late August; reds from 12 September into October

In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Walls found wines with real concentration but without heaviness, a remarkable density of ripe tannins and fairly high levels of acidity, with the standard high across the board. Jean-Paul Daumen of Domaine de la Vieille Julienne called it "an incredible vintage for me" and compares his 2016s to his 2001s, while Vincent Avril at Clos des Papes invokes 2010 and 1990. The whites are more variable: exceptional at the very best estates, but some overly heavy and alcoholic, and like the reds they will need many years to show their best. Problems among the reds, such as unbalanced alcohol, excess oak, tough tannins and occasional overripeness, were relatively rare. Daumen said the winter was not cold, that the season was hot and dry but brought enough rain at the best time, and that August was hot by day but fresh at night. Christophe Bristiel of Chateau La Nerthe said "The temperatures never really soared", setting 2016 apart from 2003, 2009, 2005 and 2010, and Ferrando said colours, polyphenols and anthocyanins could compare to 2010.

• Real concentration without heaviness, ripe tannins and fairly high acidity
• Whites more variable: exceptional at the best estates, some overly heavy
• Daumen compares his 2016s to his 2001s; Avril at Clos des Papes invokes 2010 and 1990
• Bristiel of La Nerthe: temperatures never really soared, unlike 2003, 2009, 2005 and 2010

Walls found remarkably no losers among the southern appellations in 2016. Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise came in at least as good as an exceptional 2015, with Gigondas holding the edge for freshness and purity; Jean-Baptiste Meunier at Moulin de la Gardette put its success down to the fact that "there was no excess". In Vacqueyras, Jacky Bernard of Domaine la Ligiere, president of the appellation, called 2016 "an exceptional year" with healthy grapes and no rot, and Walls rated the quality very promising despite some high alcohol levels. Walls called the Cairanne 2016s concentrated, fresh, balanced and remarkably consistent, with the reds excelling, while Rasteau's best wines were very good but less consistent. Vinsobres was a pleasant surprise, with power and freshness. He found the dark roses of Tavel considerably better than the 2015s and Lirac showing its straight, mineral character, and he tasted more basic AOC Cotes-du-Rhone wines scoring 90 points or above than ever before. Inter Rhone quoted Thomas Giubbi, co-president of the Lirac and Tavel appellations: "2015 was superb - but 2016 is perfect!" Julie Paolucci, co-chair of the Rasteau appellation, said it is rare to see a vintage with such superb minerality and so much freshness.

• Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise at least as good as 2015, with Gigondas holding the edge
• Cairanne remarkably consistent with reds excelling; Rasteau very good at best but less consistent
• Tavel's dark roses considerably better than 2015; Lirac straight and mineral
• More basic Cotes-du-Rhone at 90 points or above than Walls had tasted before

Walls judged the southern 2016s fresher and firmer than 2015, a vintage that was broadly very good but produced some overly rich and alcoholic wines, with better structure and balance. All varieties performed well, particularly Grenache, with Mourvedre and Carignan juicy and concentrated. Rodolphe des Pins of Chateau de Montfaucon in Lirac observed "lots of berries, not much juice, but amazing balance" at harvest, and Walls expects notably high acidity, intense ripe, fresh fruit and strong tannin structures to give the top wines impressive longevity. Whites are marginally better than in 2015 thanks to more freshness and acidity, but he called it emphatically a year for reds. Wine Spectator reported most southern growers favoring 2016 over 2015, and in the southern part of the valley Inter Rhone reported reds with a rare intensity of colour and whites with an array of stunning flavours.

• Fresher, firmer, better structured and better balanced than 2015
• Grenache led; Mourvedre and Carignan juicy and concentrated
• Top wines expected to show impressive longevity
• Most southern growers favored 2016 over 2015 (Wine Spectator)