Tardieu-Laurent's 2020s

Below are my notes on the first major set of 2020 Rhônes I've been lucky enough to taste. The vintage is looking very exciting, especially in the north, and I think James Lawther MW, who will be tasting for us in the Rhône at the end of this month, is in for quite something. The Tardieus describe 2020 as ‘a paradoxical, singular and extremely demanding vintage’.

Spring was wet enough to bring on the downy mildew, just as in 2018, although the rains did usefully replenish water supplies.

This was...