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IT The Rhône bears a single name, yet it tells two stories every year. In the north, between Vienne and Valence, Syrah grows on narrow granite terraces; the climate has a continental influence, and ripening comes late. Some fifty kilometres further south, another world begins: a vast, Mediterranean-influenced landscape where Grenache sets the tone and is usually blended with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. From there come Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras, as well as by far the greatest share of production under the Côtes du Rhône and Côtes du Rhône Villages appellations; the north contributes the small, expensive appellations, from Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu via Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage to Hermitage and Cornas.
Because grape variety, soil and weather differ so widely, a vintage here regularly turns out differently from one there. 2017 was a long, warm season in the north without any serious incidents, while in the south cold rain during flowering caused coulure in the Grenache and yields dropped by 30 to 65 per cent. Conversely, 1998 is regarded as a benchmark year in the south, whereas in the north April hail damaged the plateau of Côte-Rôtie. In 1999 the picture reverses once again. Anyone buying Rhône wines by vintage therefore needs two columns, not one. Both columns appear alongside Barolo, Brunello, Champagne and Burgundy in our vintage chart for all regions, which sets out the years since 2010 side by side.
The figures on this page are regional averages. They indicate how likely good-quality fruit was in a given year, not how an individual bottle tastes; in difficult years, work in the vineyard matters far more than the weather, and the gaps between producers widen rather than narrow. Where critics disagree, that is reflected here; the drinking-window notes reflect the position as of 2026.
Key: WS = Wine Spectator, separate vintage charts for North and South (1) (2) · JD = Jeb Dunnuck with maturity codes, E early maturing, Y young but approachable, T tannic and closed, R ready to drink, U uneven, O fading (3) · WCI = Wine Cellar Insider, separate charts from 1978 (4) (5). Also Vinous, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Inter Rhône and the Syndicat of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
What we currently have in stock: an overview of our Châteauneuf-du-Pape selection.
Score bands: below 88 88–90 91–93 94–96 97+ unrated · per year: left Northern Rhône · right Southern Rhône (ratings as in the text: Wine Spectator or cellar sources)
2024
Vinous Not yet rated in the major charts. In the north, it was the wettest year on record; mildew pressure necessitated twelve to sixteen treatments, and yields remained at 37 hectolitres per hectare, dropping to 28 in Hermitage. In the south, Grenache suffered from coulure once again; Châteauneuf-du-Pape recorded just under 25 hectolitres, its lowest figure since 2018. The wines are considered fresh and moderate in alcohol, less consistent in the south than in 2023, but with sufficient substance for ageing.
From this vintage in our selection: Clos des Papes – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2024 · Du Coulet – Côtes Du Rhône „Petit Ours“ rouge 2024 · Roche-Audran – Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2024 · Roche-Audran – Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2024 · Roche-Audran – Côtes du Rhône blanc „Cuvée César“ 2024.
2023
WS North 93, South 94. In the north, spring brought rain and mildew; hail struck Cornas in July, and August saw temperatures exceed 32 degrees for sixteen consecutive days. Rainfall around 18 September was highly uneven: Côte-Rôtie escaped with just over 20 millimetres, while more than 100 millimetres fell in a single day across Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas. The south enjoyed a calmer season; the wines on both sides surprise with freshness — juicy and supple in the south, lean and precise in the north.
JD North 93 (Y), South 91 (Y). More approachable earlier than 2022 and likely less long-lived.
From this vintage in our selection: Clos des Papes – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2023 · Du Coulet – Côte-Rotie „Tupin's“ 2023 · Du Coulet – Côtes Du Rhône „No Wine's Land“ blanc 2023 · La Nerthe – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2023 · Les Bruyères – Crozes Hermitage blanc, Aux Bêtises 2023 · Les Bruyères – Crozes Hermitage rouge Beaumont 2023 · Les Bruyères – Crozes Hermitage rouge Georges 2023 · Marcoux – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc 2023 · d'Ouréa – Gigondas 2023 · d'Ouréa – Vacqueyras blanc 2023 · d'Ouréa – Vacqueyras rouge „Les Vignes du Parc“ 2023.
2022
WS North 94, South 95. Heat and drought characterised both halves of the valley, with three heatwaves exceeding 40 degrees in July and August. Rain on 15 August saved the vintage, though in the south it was accompanied by severe hail that caused particular damage on La Crau; some cuvées were not produced at all. Despite the extremes, the wines remained fresh and moderate in alcohol — rich and silky in the south, more structured and still closed in the north.
JD North 95 (T), South 91 (E). Châteauneuf-du-Pape harvested 27.5 hectolitres per hectare.
From this vintage in our selection: Clos des Papes – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2022 · Du Coulet – Cornas “Brise Cailloux” 2022 · La Nerthe – Châteauneuf-du-Pape “Clos de Beauvenir” Blanc 2022 · Les Bruyères – Crozes Hermitage rouge Les Croix Vieilles Vignes 2022 · Maison Stephan – Côte Rôtie “Côteaux de Bassenon” 2022 · Marcoux – Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2022 · Roche-Audran – Côtes du Rhône Villages Visan Rouge 2022.
2021
WS North 87, South 88. The weakest vintage in recent Rhône history, and one of the few to affect both halves equally. The frost on 7 and 8 April cost the north over a third of its harvest, around half in Côte-Rôtie; in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, losses ranged from 40 to 80 per cent. In the north, many reds turned out lean and underripe, while the whites are among the highlights; in the south, some producers achieved a fresher style, lighter by about one degree.
JD North 84, South 86. For Châteauneuf-du-Pape, eight to twelve years are suggested.
From this vintage in our selection: Clos des Papes – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge 2021 · Marcoux – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2021 · Marcoux – Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2021 · d'Ouréa – Vacqueyras rouge 2021.
2020
WS North 96, South 93. A year in which the north clearly leads. Spring was among the warmest ever recorded and remained frost-free, the harvest began earlier than at any time since 2003, and cool nights preserved acidity despite the heat. The northern wines are elegant and finely textured, accessible young yet built for twenty to twenty-five years; in the south, drought stress was greater, and the wines are soft but more variable.
JD North 97 (Y), South 93 (R).
From this vintage in our selection: Du Coulet – Cornas “Billes Noires” 2020 · Du Coulet – Côtes Du Rhône “No Wine's Land” rouge 2020 · Marcoux – Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes 2020 · Marcoux – Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2020 · Roche-Audran – Côtes du Rhône Rouge “Cuvée César” 2020.
2019
WS North 96 (hold), South 94. In the north, wind during flowering and a hailstorm on 15 June in Crozes-Hermitage reduced yields locally by up to 80 per cent, while the other crus were spared; August rains unblocked stalled ripening, and the reds are dense and precise. In the south, a wet winter carried the vines through a season in which seven out of ten days exceeded 30 degrees; Grenache and Mourvèdre ripened superbly, yet according to the chart the vintage lacks the backbone of the truly great years.
JD North 96 (T), South 95.
From this vintage in our selection: Marcoux – Châteauneuf-du-Pape rouge 2019 · Roche-Audran – Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2019 · Roche-Audran – Côtes du Rhône Villages Visan Rouge Marius “Père Mayeux” 2019.
2018
WS North 92, South 92. The south bore the brunt: wet spring months and a weak Mistral allowed downy mildew to escalate, humidity was the highest since 1973, and Grenache lost up to half the crop in certain vineyard sites. According to harvest reports, the north came through with healthy, fully ripe fruit. The wines are soft, velvety and low in acidity; JD and WCI rate the north significantly higher than the south at 95 and 96 points respectively, while WS rates both equally.
JD North 95 (Y), South 89.
From this vintage in our selection: Du Coulet – Côte-Rotie “Tupin's” 2018 · Maison Stephan – Côte Rôtie “Côteaux de Tupin” 2018.
2017
WS North 97 (hold), South 92. The clearest North–South divide in recent years. In the North, the season was long, warm and dry, with cool nights and well-timed late rain. In the South, a cold, rainy May during flowering caused severe coulure in Grenache, after which virtually no rain fell until mid-November; yields dropped by 30 to 65 per cent, with Gigondas particularly hard hit. Critics are divided here: JD even rates the South marginally above the North.
JD North 95 (T), South 96 (T).
From this vintage in our selection: Du Coulet – Cornas „La Géniale Patronne“ 2017 · La Nerthe – Châteauneuf-du-Pape „Cuvée des Cadettes“ Rouge 2017.
2016
WS North 97 (hold), South 99 (hold). The benchmark year for the South: warm days and cool nights produced an unusually wide diurnal temperature range, ripening was slow and even, and the red wines are densely fruited yet racy. In the North, the year got off to a more difficult start, with delayed flowering and April hail in Hermitage that reduced quantities locally to a third; from July the weather turned, and the wines came in ripe with lower alcohol than in 2015.
JD North 92 (T), South 99 (T). WCI North 95, South 98. All three tables place the South ahead.
2015
WS North 99 (hold), South 97 (hold). The mirror image of 2016, as here the North sets the benchmark. Summer was hot and dry, nights were cool, rain arrived at just the right moment, there was no disease pressure, and yields remained normal. In the South, early-ripening varieties such as Viognier and Syrah suffered under heavy August rains, while Grenache and Mourvèdre ripened superbly; the southern style leans towards power, with high alcohol levels and low acidity.
JD North 99 (Y), South 92 (T). WCI North 98, South 96.
From this vintage in our selection: Du Coulet – Cornas „Gore“ 2015 (Magnum).
2014
WS North 89, South 88. The tables disagree on which side fared better, but not on where adversity struck. In the North, hail hit Cornas, Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage, and in Côte-Rôtie the spotted wing drosophila caused damage, reducing yields locally by half. In the South, September was wetter and botrytis necessitated rigorous sorting, though Grenache returned to normal yields after the previous year’s shortfall.
JD North 87 (E), South 87 (E). The wines are lighter than usual on both sides.
2013
WS North 91, South 89. The North leads in all three tables, and the reason lies in the South. There, spring was the coldest in years, with 217 millimetres of rain falling in April, and Grenache, which accounts for around three-quarters of the vineyard area in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, suffered massive coulure; yields fell to 26 hectolitres per hectare, and harvesting continued well into October. In the North, quantities were small, but the white wines turned out excellently. Thus, 2013 is a red wine problem, not a vintage-wide one.
JD North 89 (T), South 87 (R).
2012
WS North 92, South 93. In the North, a very dry winter was followed by a wet spring with difficult flowering and low yields, salvaged by a fine September. In the South, February temperatures of minus twelve degrees killed some old Grenache vines, near-drought conditions prevailed from May to September, and production was 20 to 30 per cent below normal. The wines are round and well-proportioned, though in the North they are not built for long-term ageing.
JD North 91 (E), South 92 (R).
2011
WS North 92, South 91. The North proved the more reliable bet: ideal flowering was followed by cold, damp weather in June and July and a decent August, allowing Syrah to reach good phenolic ripeness. In the South, April through June were very hot and dry, followed by plentiful rain in July and August, and only an Indian summer saved the ripening process. The picture in the South remains uneven, as Grenache yields were down and Syrah and Mourvèdre had to carry the blends.
JD North 93 (R), South 90 (R). Both halves are ready to drink now.
2010
WS North 98 (hold), South 98 (hold). The only year in this overview in which every table places both halves at the top of its scale. The mechanism was the same everywhere: a cool, wet spring with poor flowering pushed quantities to historically low levels, followed by a dry summer with warm days and cool nights, and the late, slow ripening preserved acidity. In Châteauneuf-du-Pape, yields stood at 27 hectolitres per hectare.
JD North 97 (T), South 99 (R). WCI North 99, South 99. After sixteen years, the South is showing openly, while the North remains closed.
2009
WS North 96, South 94 (drink). A warm, dry season with an early harvest, in which mid-August rain and cool nights preserved freshness in the North. In the South, less than 30 millimetres of rain fell between 9 June and 14 September — even less than in the drought year of 2007 — and alcohol levels frequently reached 15.5 per cent. By comparison, 2009 stands for ripeness and 2010 for freshness: in the South, 2010 leads in every table, while in the North both vintages are level.
JD North 98 (T), South 95 (E). WCI North 99, South 96.
2008
WS North 86 (drink), South 88 (drink). A cool, grey, wet season in which the red varieties barely ripened. In the North, many red wines remained lean and herbaceous, whilst the white wines impressed with ripe fruit and lively acidity; in Andrew Jefford’s table they are rated at four stars, double the score of the reds. In the South, only the arrival of the Mistral at the end of the season saved the small harvest, and many producers declassified individual cuvées.
JD North 79 (U), South 86 (R).
2007
WS North 91, South 95 (drink). The great Grenache year for the South: a damp spring was followed by a dry, warm summer with constant wind, and the grapes remained on the vine for around 120 days rather than the usual 100, without heat spikes. This resulted in ripe, powerful wines that were simultaneously harmonious in their tannins. The North experienced a more unsettled season; a hailstorm on 21 June struck the Côte Brune, and the wines are fresh and accessible, lacking the depth of top vintages.
JD North 89 (E), South 97 (R). WCI North 91, South 97.
2006
WS North 92, South 93. A year sandwiched between two louder neighbours and therefore often overlooked. A cold winter was followed by cool weather during flowering in the North, a strong summer Mistral and rainfall at harvest time; those who waited for full ripeness made the better wines. The northern red wines are ripe and fresh with an open structure, whilst in the South they turned out clear and balanced. Sources differ as to which half comes out on top.
JD North 92 (R), South 93 (R).
2005
WS North 94, South 97. In the North, a cold winter was followed by a dry, mostly warm summer with cool nights; the wines have classic structure and sufficient acidity for long-term ageing. In the South, it was the third consecutive dry year, with well-timed rain and slow, even ripening; natural alcohol levels ranged between 13.5 and 15 per cent, and WS places the vintage alongside 1998 and 1990.
JD North 89 (T), South 93 (R). WCI North 92, South 96. JD is notably more reserved than WS regarding the North.
2004
WS North 90 (drink), South 93 (drink). In the North, yield management determined the outcome; the best wines are fresh and balanced, others remained angular and green, whilst the white wines from Condrieu turned out superbly. In the South, a cool, damp spring and a strong June Mistral delayed vegetation; the year remained dry but far cooler than 2003, and a small crop produced clearly defined, reliable wines.
JD North 85 (R), South 89 (R).
2003
WS North 94, South 93 (drink). The scorching year, and one of the few in which the North leads in every chart. Extreme heat and drought resulted in a small crop there with a very wide quality range; the best wines come from Hermitage, outside of which the vintage is inconsistent, and the white wines often lack acidity. In the South, powerful red wines with coarse tannins were produced, many of which became overripe and aged rapidly.
JD North 96 (R), South 90 (U). WCI North 97, South 91.
2002
WS North 82, South 76, both past their peak. The storms of 8 and 9 September brought around 400 millimetres of rain in two days to Châteauneuf-du-Pape; nearly 40,000 hectares of vineyards, roughly a third of the growing area, were flooded, and at least 22 people lost their lives. One leading Châteauneuf estate discarded half its harvest, whilst another did not bottle its wine at all. The North was not flooded but suffered severe rot pressure in the Syrah before the harvest.
JD North 78 (O), South 55 (O). WCI North 70, South 60. A vintage to be avoided.
2001
WS North 89 (drink), South 94 (drink). In the South, conditions remained very dry from mid-July to late September; a Mistral in early September concentrated sugar levels whilst tannins lagged behind; those who waited into October harvested denser wines, and these 2001s have gained weight over the years. In the North, heavy rain on 22 and 23 September forced some growers to pick early; the wines there display fine-grained tannins and the floral side of Syrah.
JD North 89 (R), South 95 (R). WCI North 92, South 98.
2000
WS North 88 (drink), South 93 (drink). The gap between the two halves is greater here than in almost any other year; on Andrew Jefford’s table, the North receives three stars compared to five for the South. In the North, drought stress blocked ripening from late August onwards, yields were high, acidity was lost in September, and the wines often appear thin today. In the South, a large crop yielded rich, velvety wines with overripe Grenache, lacking the structure of classic vintages.
WCI North 83, South 95.
1999
WS North 96 (drink), South 90 (drink). The mirror image of the previous year. In the North, a hailstorm in early June just before flowering kept quantities low; the season ripened early and reached record sugar levels, resulting in unusually rich wines, most notably in Côte-Rôtie. In the South, rain in mid-September affected later pickers, and whilst Syrah and Mourvèdre performed excellently, Grenache did not reach the level of the previous year. The reason for the six-point gap is explicitly attributed to the grape variety.
WCI North 96, South 90.
1998
WS North 90 (drink), South 97 (drink). The benchmark vintage for the South. After a rainy spring, everything fell into place: even flowering, a warm, sunny and dry summer, and equally fine harvest conditions; despite generous yields, Grenache achieved full ripeness. It is the vintage in which the movement towards special and single-vineyard cuvées gained momentum in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In the North, April hail caused significant damage on the Côte-Rôtie plateau; the wines there are classic and firm, and are now approaching their peak.
WCI North 94, South 97.
1996
WS North 90 (drink), South 80 (past peak). The widest North–South gap in the entire series, and thus the clearest example that a single vintage rating is insufficient for the Rhône. In the North, a large crop produced wines with high acidity, the best of which are considered refined and elegant; in the South, a mild, wet winter was followed by an unsettled summer and cool harvest days, resulting in light, early-drinking reds and some very good whites. 1997 also favoured the North by seven points. There is nothing left to buy here; anyone who still has bottles cellared should open them.
WCI North 84, South 88. Here the ranking is reversed, so the record gap is merely one reading from WS rather than a definitive finding.
1990
WCI North 96 (drink), South 97 (drink). In the South, this marks the beginning of the modern era of Châteauneuf-du-Pape: a dry winter, a wet spring, and a warm, sunny summer yielded rich, opulent wines that re-established the appellation’s international reputation. In the North, the vintage was more consistent than the following year, and after more than 25 years of bottle age the wines remained concentrated and vibrant, though they should be drunk now.
1989
WCI North 93 (drink), South 93 (drink). In the North, the year was marked by high yields and a very hot, dry September that continued right through the harvest; the wines have character and aromatic complexity, but after almost three decades of bottle age they are now calling for a corkscrew. In the South, the grapes reached full ripeness, yet the high yields left a rustic texture in some wines that never entirely faded.
1978
WCI North 98, South 98. The old benchmark, and on both sides at once. A wet spring delayed the start, but a warm, sun-drenched summer more than made up for it. In the South, the vintage is regarded as the finest since 1961; in the North, Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage produced wines that are still cited as benchmarks today. Most southern bottles have faded; in the North, it comes down to the individual bottle.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 13 Rhône grape varieties?
This usually refers to the thirteen varieties of Châteauneuf-du-Pape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Counoise, Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Terret Noir, Picpoul, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Roussanne and Picardan. If each colour variant is counted separately, the total rises to eighteen.
What does the vintage tell us about a wine?
It reflects the weather of that year: warmth and drought bring concentration and alcohol, while a cooler season yields freshness and acidity. On the Rhône, the North and South often diverge – which is why we rate them separately.
Which wine vintages are the best?
There is no single best year: Syrah in the North and Grenache in the South respond differently to the same weather. The overview above shows, year by year, which side of the Rhône came out on top.
Sources:
1. https://www.winespectator.com/vintage-charts/region/rhone-northern
2. https://www.winespectator.com/vintage-charts/region/rhone-southern
3. https://jebdunnuck.com/vintage-chart/
4. https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/northern-rhone-vintage-chart-1978-harvest-growing-season-wine-styles/
5. https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/rhone-wines-cote-rotie-hermitage-chateauneuf-du-pape/chateauneuf-du-pape-wine-producer-profiles/chateauneuf-du-pape-southern-rhone-vintage-chart-1978-today/
6. https://www.winescholarguild.com/vintage-charts/french-wine-vintage-chart/rhone-valley-vintage-chart
7. https://www.vins-rhone.com/en/rhone-valley-vineyards/rone-valley-vintages
8. https://en.chateauneuf.com/appellation-chateauneuf-du-pape/vintages/
9. https://v1.vinous.com/articles/northern-rhone-2024-one-hill-rises-jan-2026
10. https://v1.vinous.com/articles/northern-rhone-2023-the-art-of-perseverance-jan-2025
11. https://v1.vinous.com/articles/chateauneuf-du-pape-2024-dark-elegance-oct-2025
12. https://v1.vinous.com/articles/chateauneuf-du-pape-2022-bring-it-on-jun-2024
13. https://billing.vinous.com/articles/never-a-dull-vintage-in-the-northern-rhone-dec-2022
14. https://billing.vinous.com/articles/2007-and-2006-rhone-valley-wines-jan-2009
15. https://billing.vinous.com/articles/2005-and-2004-rhone-valley-wines-jan-2007
16. https://billing.vinous.com/articles/2001-and-2000-rhone-valley-wines-jan-2003
17. https://billing.vinous.com/articles/1999-and-1998-rhone-valley-wines-jan-2001
18. https://www.bbr.com/articles/guides/northern-rhone-2024-vintage-report
19. https://www.bbr.com/articles/guides/southern-rhone-2024-vintage-report
20. https://www.bbr.com/editorial/2025/northern-rhone-2023-vintage-report
21. https://www.bbr.com/articles/wine/northern-rhone-2022-vintage-report
22. https://www.bbr.com/editorial/2022/rhone/northern-rhone-2020-vintage-report
23. https://www.bbr.com/editorial/2022/rhone/southern-rhone-2020-vintage-report
24. https://www.bbr.com/articles/wine/rhone-2012-vintage
25. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/deluge-devastates-southern-rhone-languedoc-at-start-of-harvest-9822
26. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/2002-vintage-roundup-1547
27. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/2014-vintage-report-france-wine-harvest-50915
28. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/southern-rhone-france-2017-harvest-blog
29. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/2018-rhone-harvest
30. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/wine-harvest-report-2016-rhone-valley
31. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/wine-harvest-2015-northern-rhone-winemakers-report-a-very-promising-vintage-52325
32. https://www.winespectator.com/articles/wine-harvest-2015-southern-rhone-winemakers-call-it-a-power-vintage-52423
33. https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/2024/02/2021-chateauneuf-du-pape-report-buying-guide-part-1-wines-a-d/
34. https://worldoffinewine.com/tasting-notes/rhone-2021-vintage-review
35. https://drinkrhone.com/leading_wines_by_vintage/2014_northern_rh%C3%B4ne
36. https://www.winescholarguild.com/blog/tasting-trends/the-2018-vintage-in-france-by-andrew-jefford