Prøve GULL - Gratis
Rhône 2023
Decanter
|February 2025
In a year that was respectively 'challenging' and 'troublesome' in south and north, it will be vital to follow expert advice when it comes to finding the wines that you'll enjoy. The effects of some extreme swings in the weather were quite localised, however, so there are plenty of good wines to be found. Our Rhône expert Contributing Editor tasted 1,250 wines in all - here's a selection of 45 of his top picks
-
When we get rain, there's too much; when we get sun, there's too much,' says Guillaume Sorrel (Domaine Marc Sorrel) of the current weather patterns in the Rhône: something that many winemakers would recognise in 2023.
It was a season of extremes, but most managed to wrestle good results from the chaos.
On paper, it was another very hot, dry year - it didn't break records like 2022 did, but it wasn't far off.
The year started out exceptionally dry, but thankfully rain came from mid-May onwards. The water was welcome - crucial, in fact - but it brought with it downy mildew and black rot in the jungle of foliage that burst forth, particularly in the northern Rhône.
A fierce heatwave in late August left an indelible stamp on the vintage. As in 2022, there were some blockages in ripening, but they weren't as significant in 2023. The impact was concentrated grapes, reduced acidity and more potent levels of alcohol.
White wines were a success story throughout the Rhône in 2023. They have intensity, freshness and energy, and are more appetising than the 2022s, which are often heavy in comparison.
Most of the past eight vintages need significant time in bottle to show their best. The 2023s, however, are immediately drinkable and enjoyable.So it will be a useful vintage in that respect, tiding us over until the others are ready to drink.
Southern Rhône
The story of a vintage really begins once the last of the previous year's grapes have been harvested.
The last quarter of 2022 was very wet, with rain replenishing water reserves ahead of what turned out to be another parched growing season to follow.
Denne historien er fra February 2025-utgaven av Decanter.
Abonner på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av kuraterte premiumhistorier og over 9000 magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FLERE HISTORIER FRA Decanter
Decanter
LIMESTONE Soul
The secret’s in the soil — or under it, in the case of St-Emilion, where the region’s limestone bedrock plateau really does lie at the heart of the identity of many of its best wines. Discover the magic of the plateau, and the differences it makes...
10 mins
June 2025
Decanter
THE famous 5 VINTAGES
In recent memory, it has become an accepted likelihood that the vintage that comes around every tenth year and ends in the digit 5 will turn out to be somewhere between very good and great. Here, we examine the remarkable track record of (mostly) success going back over the last eight decades
9 mins
June 2025
Decanter
10 city hotspots to seek out
At the centre of the world wine trade, Bordeaux city centre is full of great places to drink good wine. Take the advice of a local and head to these top spots next time you visit
4 mins
June 2025
Decanter
TRUE GRIT Bordeaux's organic revolution
Organic viticulture isn't easy here, but there's a growing shift nevertheless. Our Bordeaux correspondent explains the challenges, and picks 20 top buys for the eco-conscious drinker
5 mins
June 2025
Decanter
Take THREE
Our Contributing Editor and expert on Bordeaux has followed developments at many estates over decades of visiting. Here he reveals the vision and financial input that have transformed the quality of the wines at a trio of them
8 mins
June 2025
Decanter
Building the future
From suspended tanks to raw earth walls, Bordeaux's wineries are blending centuries-old tradition with cutting-edge innovation to redefine excellence in winemaking
6 mins
June 2025
Decanter
2015 REVISITED 10 years on
In many ways the year that proved the Bordeaux ‘rule of fives’, 2015 produced so many good to great wines it’s hard to go far wrong. Yet, a decade on, guidance is key to determine which are drinking soon and which to leave for longer. Our expert picks 25 highlights of the vintage
10 mins
June 2025
Decanter
Chacra Chardonnay A meeting of minds
In the extreme terroir of Patagonian Argentina, two heirs to renowned European winemaking lineages are crafting a new paradigm for world-class Chardonnay
6 mins
June 2025
Decanter
BAROLO 2021
Despite damaging early frosts, the excellent 2021 vintage has produced an impressive return of good to excellent wines across the board: 'a modern benchmark'
14 mins
June 2025
Decanter
What to pair with No- and low-alcohol drinks
As people become more mindful about their drinking, no- and low-alcohol tipples are rapidily rising in popularity. But what should we be eating with them?
2 mins
June 2025