Rhône 2023 – Crozes-Hermitage, St-Joseph and other northern reds

Jean Gonon, Domaine Pierre Gonon (St-Joseph)

A combination of luck and careful picking resulted in some fine reds from the southern end of the northern Rhône. For more on the vintage, see Rhône 2023 – a guide. Above, Jean Gonon at Domaine Pierre Gonon, one of the stars of the vintage.

As is often the case there was more disparity in quality in Crozes-Hermitage but for good reason in 2023. A belt of hail swept through the southern part of the appellation on 29 July affecting vineyards to varying degrees, some losing the entire crop. There was also the heavy rain that fell mid September during...