2021 Southern Rhône Vintage

Across the Rhone Valley, frost, hail and rain upset the work of growers and winemakers. The April frost hit parts of the south hard. In estimates published on 20 April, the Institut Cooperatif du Vin (ICV) put losses at more than 60 percent of production around Cairanne and Gigondas. Jacques Rousseau of the ICV put losses on the right bank of the Gard at 30 to 60 percent, Tavel and Lirac were provisionally put at 30 percent, and an estimated 60 percent of buds burnt in the north of the Costieres de Nimes. At Domaine de la Presidente in Sainte-Cecile-les-Vignes, Simon Gauthier toured the 137 hectares of vines, and the domaine's technical manager estimated 30 percent of buds destroyed; Viognier suffered most, Grenache came through moderately and Syrah held up rather well. Beaumes de Venise was spared: co-president Xavier Vignon credited the protective influence of the Dentelles de Montmirail and the thermal gradient between the Cru's lower and higher plots. In the southern part of the vineyards, 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. At Chateau de Nalys in Chateauneuf-du-Pape (director Raph Garcin), frost spared the estate but the vines suffered from the cold, giving bushy shoots and dense foliage that favoured cryptoblabes, which slightly damaged grapes in some sectors; grape health was acceptable despite spring and summer rain. Across the valley, picking began on Monday 30 August, 10 days later than in 2020, and ran into October. In Chateauneuf-du-Pape, ripening at Nalys ran 7 to 10 days behind recent years, and Chateau La Nerthe was 10 days behind the previous year. By mid-September, Roussanne and Grenache Blanc were in the vats in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, with the first Syrah due by the end of the week. On yields, La Nerthe's director Remi Jean expected a crop 20 to 30 percent below 2020, and yields and berry weights at Nalys were 15 to 20 percent lower.

• April frost: more than 60 percent of production lost around Cairanne and Gigondas (ICV estimate); Beaumes de Venise spared
• South: cooler temperatures and early September rain were welcomed
• Valley-wide: picking from 30 August, 10 days later than 2020, running into October
• Chateauneuf-du-Pape: ripening 7 to 10 days behind recent years at Chateau de Nalys; La Nerthe expected 20 to 30 percent less than 2020

In Beaumes de Venise, co-president Xavier Vignon expected "generous wines, of very good quality, concentration, depth and good acidity levels", with Muscats already bursting with aromas and reds that will need another winter before they are ready. In Cairanne, president Laurent Brusset said growers had not expected a large yield and were rather pessimistic before harvest, but "reality exceeded our expectations". He called 2021 "a vigneron's vintage", with harvest date decisions at times in reverse order compared with classic vintages, and described lush, elegant wines with finesse, length, intense and stable colour and soft, silky tannins. In Lirac, co-president Francois Miquel described fresh wines lighter in alcohol by 1 to 1.5 degrees and generous volumes in all three colours. For the Costieres de Nimes, Etienne Maffre noted excellent acidic balances and lower degrees, calling it a great year for whites. In the Duche d'Uzes, Michel Souchon said a shortage of Viognier gave whites a less pronounced apricot aroma, while the reds show silky tannins, lighter liquorice than usual and red fruit and violet.

Terre de Vins headlined its mid-September report a 2021 vintage full of promise (translated), finding vigilance and optimism the order of the day in the southern Rhone Valley, and particularly in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, for a vintage shaping up as complicated but promising (translated). At Chateau La Nerthe, director Remi Jean described sound grape health and first fermentations going well. At Chateau de Nalys, Raph Garcin was pleased with the first white juices: ripe, clean and aromatic, with more acidity than usual (translated). Both directors were conscious of being somewhat privileged compared with colleagues in other appellations.

In the south, early tastings of the wines in vat offered nice surprises among whites and roses, and the reds were fruity, with alcohol 1 degree lighter than in previous years. Across the whole valley, Inter Rhone president Philippe Pellaton said "Grenache gives elegant wines, from a beautiful harvest and well-balanced crop load". Denis Guthmuller, president of the General Syndicate of Cotes du Rhone, said rainfall partly limited crop losses and added: "2021 will be remembered as a difficult vintage. Its qualitative potential is nevertheless promising." Ripeness took a long time to achieve, he said, but patience will be rewarded.