2022 Northern Rhône Vintage
A hot, ultra-dry northern Rhone summer eased by August rain, with appellation leaders praising fine tannins and balance.
The northern Rhone growth cycle was accelerated but moderate, with no disease pressure, then an ultra-dry, hot summer was hard on the vines until August rains brought a welcome respite. Flowering ran from 15 to 31 May with daily highs above 30 degrees, and the northern harvest began on 22 August with Marsanne and Roussanne. Inter Rhone's appellation leaders spoke of balance at Condrieu, Hermitage and Cornas, and of fine or soft tannins at Hermitage, Saint-Joseph and Cornas.
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Across the Rhone Valley, winter and spring were particularly mild and very dry, with exceptional rainfall deficits. In the north, autumn and winter 2021 to 2022 rainfall ran 25 percent below the 2010 to 2020 averages. From mid-April, temperatures stayed consistently above normal, with three temperature peaks. The Revue Vinicole Internationale (RVI) described vegetative growth as considerably accelerated, while Inter Rhone put the northern growth cycle as accelerated only moderately. Flowering ran from 15 to 31 May in high heat, with daily maximums above 30 degrees. These conditions kept disease away, and there was no disease pressure in the north; Inter Rhone noted that the number and shape of the bunches foreshadowed a good harvest. Some parcels showed water stress from mid-June, and rain in the second half of June gave the vines some respite. The northern summer was ultra-dry and hot, and hard on the vines. August rain in the north was regular, giving new breath (nouveau souffle, translated) to vines that had shown great resistance, and it let vine metabolism continue in good conditions. The northern harvest began early, on 22 August, with Marsanne and Roussanne, and Syrah and Viognier followed from the end of August. Vineyard health was excellent in both north and south; the rain had swollen the berries slightly, but average berry weight was still below normal.
- Autumn and winter 2021 to 2022 rainfall 25 percent below the 2010 to 2020 averages
- Flowering 15 to 31 May with daily highs above 30 degrees; water stress in some parcels from mid-June
- Ultra-dry, hot summer relieved by August rain, with no disease pressure
- Harvest from 22 August with Marsanne and Roussanne; Syrah and Viognier from the end of August
- Northern harvest began on 22 August 2022 with Marsanne and Roussanne; Syrah and Viognier followed from the end of August
- Flowering in the north ran from 15 to 31 May, with daily maximums above 30 degrees
- Northern autumn and winter 2021 to 2022 rainfall was 25 percent below the 2010 to 2020 averages
- From mid-April, northern temperatures stayed consistently above normal, with three temperature peaks
- An ultra-dry, hot summer was hard on northern vines until August rains brought a welcome respite
- No disease pressure in the north; average berry weight below normal in both north and south
- Across the Rhone Valley, vine maturity was around twenty days ahead of 2021 in many sectors
Appellation by Appellation
Inter Rhone's northern report opened with beautiful maturity levels, fine tannins for the reds and beautiful aromas for the whites, and gathered views from appellation leaders. At Condrieu, Co-President Pierre-Jean Villa called 2022 "a precocious vintage with a fairly low but balanced acidity", adding that potential degrees had not soared and that the floral, fruity wines were expected to be lush and accessible. At Hermitage, Co-President Jacques Desvernois described great balance, moderately low alcohol levels and surprisingly soft tannins, with acidity he expected to be sufficient for aging, and very dense, generous whites; he placed 2022 in line with great vintages for cellaring. On the other side of the Rhone in Saint-Joseph, Co-President Joel Durand said the vine, and Syrah in particular, adapted very well, with good phenolic ripeness promising fine tannins, and the whites quite fleshy. In Cornas, Pierre-Louis Clape spoke of "surprisingly fine and coated tannins, despite a significant water deficit", correct acidity levels and ripeness that brought balance.
- Condrieu: precocious, floral and fruity, with fairly low but balanced acidity (Pierre-Jean Villa)
- Hermitage: great balance, moderately low alcohol, surprisingly soft tannins; dense, generous whites (Jacques Desvernois)
- Saint-Joseph: Syrah reacted very well; fine tannins and quite fleshy whites (Joel Durand)
- Cornas: fine, coated tannins despite a significant water deficit (Pierre-Louis Clape)
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See the Pivot+- 2022 northern Rhone: an ultra-dry, hot summer, after autumn and winter rainfall 25 percent below the 2010 to 2020 averages.
- Northern flowering ran 15 to 31 May with daily highs above 30 degrees, and the heat kept disease away.
- August rain relieved the vines; the northern harvest began on 22 August with Marsanne and Roussanne, then Syrah and Viognier from the end of August.
- Appellation leaders' views: surprisingly soft tannins and moderately low alcohol at Hermitage (Jacques Desvernois); fine, coated tannins despite a water deficit at Cornas (Pierre-Louis Clape).
- Across the valley, vine maturity was around twenty days ahead of 2021 in many sectors.
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