2021 Rhône Valley Vintage

Frost, hail and rain did not spare the Rhône Valley vineyards in 2021, a demanding and atypical year. The frost came in early April and was France-wide: several nights of sub-zero temperatures in the week before 12 April 2021 fell as low as -6C, after a spell of unseasonably warm weather had sped up plant growth. The Rhône Valley was particularly hard hit, especially Côte-Rôtie, and Inter Rhône president Philippe Pellaton predicted the region's smallest harvest in 40 years, with some estates losing their entire crop. In the north, the year brought spring frost, abundant rain and occasional hail, and Michel Chapoutier described cooler temperatures and later ripening of the grapes. In the south, cooler temperatures and early September rainfall were welcomed. April's frost had raised fears of a 40 percent drop in yield, but a cooler-than-usual summer and September rains helped feed the vines and develop the berries. Across the valley the harvest was relatively late, spread over time and heterogeneous: estates started picking on Monday 30 August, 10 days later than in 2020, and the harvest extended into October. Yields were lower in some parts of the vineyard, and the sanitary status of the vineyards was well-managed.

• Frost in the week before 12 April hit France down to -6C; the Rhône was hard hit, especially Côte-Rôtie
• North: spring frost, abundant rain and occasional hail, with cooler temperatures and later ripening
• South: a cooler-than-usual summer, with early September rainfall welcomed
• Picking from Monday 30 August, 10 days later than 2020, into October; lower yields in some parts of the vineyard

Inter Rhône headed its northern report "Excellent balance in the North and remarkable white wines." Some vines resisted the season well while other plots suffered, which made the vintage heterogeneous, but the harvested grapes were healthy with excellent maturity. Michel Chapoutier compared the conditions to those of the 1990s and said Hermitage and Saint-Joseph were already showing their signature peppery and spicy character, with a more restrained fruit profile. The northern 2021 wines are expected to be marked by elegance and finesse.

• Condrieu: "Viognier is performing well, with a beautiful freshness, a lively aromatic character and good pH levels," appellation co-president Christophe Pichon told Inter Rhône
• Côte-Rôtie: Philippe Guigal called the harvest truly qualitative, crediting growers for picking in time and in good sanitary conditions
• Crozes-Hermitage: Yann Chave expected an exceptional vintage for whites and charming, pleasant reds with well-rounded tannins
• Saint-Péray: some higher altitude vineyards made up for frost shortages

Inter Rhône headed its southern report "Lighter wines bursting with fruit in the South." Early tastings in vat brought nice surprises in white and rosé wines, and the red wines were fruity, with alcohol 1 degree lighter than in previous years. In Beaumes de Venise, the Cru's wines were spared from frost. Rainfall partly limited crop losses, and Denis Guthmuller, president of the General Syndicate of Côtes du Rhône, said 2021 will be remembered as a difficult vintage with promising potential.

• Cairanne: appellation president Laurent Brusset said growers were pessimistic before harvest and reality exceeded their expectations
• Lirac: co-president François Miquel expected fresh wines 1 to 1.5 degrees lighter in alcohol, and generous volumes in all three colours
• Clairette de Die: September rainfall helped the grapes, and the harvest period was dense and shortened
• Costières de Nîmes: Etienne Maffre expected a great year for white wines, with excellent acidic balance

Inter Rhône's own report called 2021 a year marked by quality for white, rosé and red wines alike, with structured, elegant, fresh and fruity as the main keywords for the vintage. Natural acidity levels are good and the balance excellent, despite lower yields in some parts of the vineyard. Inter Rhône president Philippe Pellaton said: "Grenache gives elegant wines, from a beautiful harvest and well-balanced crop load; syrah is usually slightly more generous and gives fresh and harmonious wines."

• Keywords: structured, elegant, fresh and fruity
• Inter Rhône's northern report headlined remarkable white wines; in the south, whites and rosés offered nice surprises
• Southern reds came in 1 degree lighter in alcohol than in previous years