What we've so far published on this promising vintage. James Lawther MW took this picture in the cellars of Ch de Beaucastel when he visited them a year ago.
There are several things in favour of 2020s in the Rhône Valley. Firstly it's available in reasonable quantity. Secondly, perhaps partly because of that, most prices look decidedly reasonable compared with the most sought-after wines of Bordeaux and, especially, Burgundy. And thirdly, the wines are really very good – with only a minority of exceptions.
Bordeaux-based James Lawther MW tasted like crazy on our behalf in the Rhône last month (no need for a COVID-19 test nor the passenger locator form that UK-based tasters would have had to submit but, as you can see from this picture, masks were much in evidence in Châteauneuf). He was on a crammed schedule organised with great aplomb by Julie Coutton of the generic body Inter Rhône.
His notes have already been supplemented by some northern Rhône tasting notes taken by me at Davy's recent, very well organised Rhône tasting in London. Ali Cooper MW is planning to attend Justerini & Brooks' Rhône tasting on 6 December and we will be publishing his reviews as soon as possible afterwards.
UK merchants making offers of 2020 Rhônes
Berry Bros & Rudd
Davy's Wine Merchants – some very decent prices and some particularly excellent buys
Justerini & Brooks – heavyweight names, scheduled for 6 December 2021
Laithwaites – expected before Christmas 2021
Montrachet
Yapp Bros – a small but perfectly formed collection of classic names, including Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Our coverage
Here's what we have published to date, with the most recent article at the top of the list. Many more tasting articles to be added each day this week and on Monday next week.
Lots more Rhône 2020s Jancis Robinson, James Lawther MW & Andy Howard MW 10 March 2022
J&B's 2020 Rhônes Alistair Cooper MW 14 December 2021
2020 Rhône – Châteauneuf and Vacqueyras whites James Lawther MW 6 December 2021
2020 Rhône – northern whites and a white-wine overview James Lawther MW 3 December 2021
2020 Rhône – Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph and other northern reds James Lawther MW 2 December 2021
2020 Rhône – Côte Rôtie, red Hermitage, Cornas and northern overview James Lawther MW 1 December 2021
Rhône 2020 – Gigondas and red Vacqueyras James Lawther MW 30 November 2021
Rhône 2020 – red Châteauneuf-du-Pape and southern overview James Lawther MW 29 November 2021
Yapp's latest Rhônes Ali Cooper MW 16 November 2021
Perrin Family 2020s and older treasures Julia Harding MW 3 November 2021
Tardieu-Laurent's 2020s Jancis Robinson 15 October 2021