We move northwards with this first of three reports on the 2020 vintage in the northern Rhône Valley together with an overview. Above, Pierre-Marie Clape of Cornas pictured by James. See this guide to our coverage of 2020 Rhône.
Asked to define the 2020 vintage at the family property in Cornas, the summation of Pierre-Marie Clape, pictured above, was succinct: ‘hot, dry and early’. Indeed, the whole of the northern Rhône experienced another solar year in line with 2019 and 2018. Mitigating climatic factors, though, and a more seasoned approach from growers, have made the wines a little less...