See Rhône 2014 – a guide for links to all our articles and reviews.
The postcard-pretty village of Gigondas pictured here has used the sales pitch ‘vins d’altitude’. Its vineyards are certainly higher than those of Châteauneuf – and from many of them there are the most spectacular views. In warm, ripe years its wines can benefit from extra freshness. But in 2014 when many grapes struggled to achieve full ripeness (see the introduction to Rhône 2014 – Châteauneuf-du-Pape reds), the lower temperatures associated with elevation may not have been an advantage.
I must say I was surprised when...