I recently picked up some '19 Balthazar Cornas Chaillots and I have some '19 Barge Cote Rotie Coeur de Combard in my cellar. I was looking up tasting notes and did not find much on either, so I was wondering if anyone had any projection on drinking windows for these wines. I’m assuming neither would be particularly rewarding to open up right now.
From what I heard, '19 was solar, ripe, and probably unapproachable. Not a very classical vintage. Better in Cote Rotie than in Cornas. Does that seem to be a correct assessment?
Any thoughts on '20s and 21s for Northern Rhone. Read that '20 is more classical than '19, but still very ripe. I’m also seeing '21s beginning to hit retail shelves, so if anyone had any thoughts on those, that would be welcome.
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Small sample size and anecdotes, but it sounds like 2021 is more of a ‘classic’ vintage. Much more so than the previous three.
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Both producers you mentioned require a lot of ageing in my opinion. That being said, I have heard '19 was a solar year so if you are looking for more of tertiary, secondary characteristics, then you will have to wait awhile.
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We sell Balthazar. The 2019 Cornas Chaillots is a massive, structured tannic wine that will need years of cellaring. The Casimir is more forward, less structured and open but will also need some years to show full potential.
2021 is for me a nice vintage, it is as if someone has turned the volume down. Alcohol levels are between 13 and 14% and with some whites 12,5%. As someone more attune to Burgundy, the northern Rhône in 2021 is providing what I would looking for in Burgundy but Burgundy is failing to provide, if that makes sense. Where red burgundy from 2021 can come across as anemic, the reds from the Northen Rhône that i have tasted were beautifully balanced. The whites are really special.
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In your opinion, are the '21s approachable young since they are not as ripe or structured as the '19s and '20s or should we just bury them?
Any particular region stand out (Cornas, Cote Rotie, St. Joseph, etc…) that year?
You also mentioned the whites were particularly good – what makes them stand out in '21? Any particular regions we should look out for for Northern Rhone whites?
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Northern Rhône is as I say a region where I have no in depth knowledge and could not make pronouncements on appellations. I have only tasted what we sell. The 21s so far have come across as quite open, even a usually more tannic wine like Gripa’s 2021 Saint Joseph Le Berceau is pretty accessible. The alcohol is down and I know this is an over used tem but they come across as burgundian, I would have to admit, I love the acidity in the reds. We are waiting for the big ones like Balthazar and Lionnet to arrive.
The whites, or at least the ones I have tasted, have a cold climate feeling to them, the acidity is mild but the aromatics are more articualte and pristine, which i would attribitute to the lower alcohols.But in contrast to white Burgundy, they have real substance. From my perspective, although Burugndy makes a big part of our business. I am stockpiling 2021 Rhône wines from the north and the south, both red and white as from my perspective the prices are really good…
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Thank you. I appreciate your detailed notes on what you have tasted. Makes me look forward to trying some ‘21s.
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Yes agreed - Donald’s previews are always timely - early even - relative to when we see the wines in California.
Yule - let’s chat some time and compare notes about N. Rhône. I’ve been exploring the region only in the last few years and am getting a handle on what I like and what is reasonably available in our market.
More generally I would say I find there are many N. Rhônes every vintage that are approachable young. It seems like most producers make low priced, entry level wines that aren’t meant to age but can give one a reasonable preview of the vintage and style. I treat a lot of Langhe Nebbiolos in the same way, for example.
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Nice, we should definitely do that. I wouldn’t mind doing a survey of the more entry-level wines to get a better handle on the different house styles.
I have been also looking at buying early-drinking vintages as well (I have a '14 Gilles Cornas on deck – I think I heard that '12 and '14 are a little more accessible right now, though I could be wrong about that)
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Broadly, I have found '14 Northern Rhones to be more accessible (i.e. drinkable) at this early juncture.
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Thank you! Any insight on the cuvee hommage?
I’ve actually had good luck with 18s depending on style. Others may disagree, but I thought the 18 Gonon St Joseph was great right out of the gate. Gilles Peyrouses was pretty good too. There were some more modern producers pushing 14.5 abv that I did not like much in 18, though I’m not sure I would have liked them in other vintages either.
Not sure id agree on 12. Have heard of some good recent experiences with 11 and 14, but haven’t had enough myself to say.
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Yup, I think the earlier-drinking recent vintages were '11 and '14, as you noted. My mistake on '12.