Rhône 2010 Vintage Report and En Primeur Offer
"No British wine merchant understands the region better."
Robert Sandall, GQ Magazine, January 2009
Without doubt, the 2010 vintage in the Rhône is magnificent. As current IWC Rhône Specialist Merchant of the Year 2011 and with over 40 years’ experience of shipping wines from the Rhône, we are delighted to offer a comprehensive range of 2010 wines from the region’s leading winemakers.
Our Rhône 2010 en primeur offer is now closed. If you have any questions about wine bought en primeur, or if you missed out completely, please contact Bianca by telephone on 01747 860423 or email at bianca@yapp.co.uk.
Click here to see our Rhône 2011 En Primeur Offer
Region Overview
After a cool Spring, the Northern Rhône experienced near perfect conditions throughout June, July and August. Patchy rain in September, prior to the harvests, benefitted the vines, bringing a welcome balance to this vintage. As in the South, the harvest began around two weeks later than in 2009 (which was very early) and fermentations were short (12 days chez Clape), indicating good quality grapes. In general, the 2010 vintage is more typical and closer to the terroir than the fruit-forward, more muscular 2009s. Truly two great back to back vintages that have drawn comparisons with 1990 & 1991, as well as 1999 and 1978 (in the North).
The Southern Rhône had a slow start to the year, resulting in coulure (where the flowers fail to develop into grapes). This particularly impacted Grenache and yields were down by up to 30%. A hot Summer prevailed with a particularly dry August, but cool nights helped maintain good acidity and freshness in the fruit. Harvesting took place from the second week of September, two weeks later than in 2009. At Le Vieux Donjon we tasted the 2010 alongside the legendary 2007 and it lost nothing by comparison, while Emilie Boisson at Domaine Père Caboche considered the 2010 to her ‘vintage of the decade without question’.
Independent Testimonial
"Wine lovers in search of great French wine whose prices have not (yet) been inflated by demand from Asia are currently able to choose from two great vintages in the northern Rhône."
Jancis Robinson MW - Financial Times, January 2012.
"...having already started my tastings of the 2010 vintage in Burgundy and the Rhône, I must urge those of you who like wines from these two great French wine regions to try to put a bit of money aside (ha!) to invest in the 2010s from them. After the unusually ripe, relatively low acid wines made in 2009, the 2010s typically show considerably more precision and freshness, and more supple tannins in the case of the southern Rhône. "
Jancis Robinson MW, Purple Pages (JancisRobinson.com) December 2011.
"This is a great vintage that comes close in quality to 2007 in the southern Rhône. Some producers think 2010 eclipses 2007 because of the wines’ vivid freshness and focus."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate November 2011.
"As I have stated several times before, I love 2010. It is a great vintage, truly. I recommend buying it."
Drinkrhone.com, John Livingstone-Learmonth.
"With the 2010 harvest completed, France's Rhône Valley now has back-to-back potentially outstanding vintages in both the northern and southern portions of the valley, following the difficult 2008 season. The only downside consumers may have to deal with is low quantities of wine."
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator.
"You are going to adore these (Rhone) 2010s. Small yields in the South, beautiful acidity and impressive ripeness in the North, 2010 promises to be superb quality. The wines will be delicious in the richness of their youth but equally age-worthy. Isn’t that the definition of a Great Vintage?"
La Revue Du Vin De France, June 2011.
Click here to see our Rhône 2011 En Primeur Offer