2012 was a very good vintage in
the Rhône Valley. Whilst 2012 itself was a very challenging year for many of
the other French regions, the most of the Rhône appellations enjoyed stabile
and dry weather particularly during the summer months, with just enough rain in
crucial periods to avoid water stress and encourage growth. The majority of the outstanding winemakers featured in this offer
rated their 2012 red wines higher than the also very good 2011. 
After
visiting and extensively tasting up and down the Rhône Valley in November our
team was impressed with the attractive nature and high quality of the wines. The
2012 red wines from the North and Southern ends of the Valley possess more
substance and elegance than most of their 2011 counterparts. Alcohol levels are
refreshingly lower than in recent blockbuster years and there is evident purity
and refinement found in the wines across the appellations. Aromatic ripe fruit
is well defined and measured and this great measure of all component parts is
the key feature of 2012 vintage. The best wines display sufficient structure and
fruit concentration to indicate very good ageing potential. This said, most of
the 2012 reds are very open, already displaying great purity and full charm. There
is a suggestion of full integration and early equilibrium found even in the
most serious cuvées. 
The 2012 Rhône white wines are equally impressive and attractive. They exhibit excellent concentration and pure aromatic definition. Further to this, there is a vivid energy found in the 2012 whites. Stabile summer weather without heatwaves, combined with cool weather in September has provided wines with a refreshing stream of acidity and pronounced underlying minerality. Similarly to the 2012 reds the whites promise early drinking but also good ageing potential.
The 2012 Rhône wines continue to be superb value for money, especially when compared with top wines from other French classic regions like Bordeaux. Quality in 2012 is well spread across the appellations and throughout all levels of the wines. Our team was amazed by the balance and charm of the 2012 red and white wines even at the basic level. Given the early approachability of this vintage this is a perfect vintage to stock up on good value drinking wines as well as on highly sought after regional superstars.
Growing Season
Northern Rhône
The
2012 season started with cold and very dry winter in Northern Rhone with
average winter rainfall less than 30mm per month. There was some damage caused by low
temperatures in January and February but to considerably less extent that in
Southern Rhône. After initial slow development, vegetative growth was
accelerated by the warm weather in March. The
month ended as the warmest March in the last twelve years and consequently budding was one of
the earliest on record in the first week of April. April rains were well timed and crucial for
building of water reserves after dry winter but humid conditions caused
development of mildew and extensive work was needed in the vineyards. The period between the early bud break and very late flowering was one
of the longest on record with flowering occurring in the first ten days of
June. The flowering process was uneven and prolonged over more than 20 days. As the result careful
selection was required during the harvest with some unevenly developed grapes.
July and August enjoyed stable weather with plenty of sunshine. Temperatures in
the second part of August were high but they dropped considerably in September.
This cool but stable weather in the first part of September with occasional
showers enhanced ripening of the skins and was beneficial for preservation of
acidity levels. Harvest for whites started from 15th September in the
Hermitage, on the 17th in Condrieu and on the 20th in St
Joseph. Reds were picked over a longer period of time, occasionally interrupted
by rain, with harvest lasting well into October. Picking started from the 15th
September in the Cote Rotie, the 22nd in the Hermitage and the 3rd
October in St Joseph. With rain in September and October botrytis formed
rapidly which was excellent for sweet wines but represented danger for high
altitude, late ripening plots of Syrah. Those grapes obtained needed careful selection
but overall quality was very good for both whites and reds. Sugar levels were
good but not excessively high and acidity was well preserved with pH ranging
3.56 to 3.77 for Viognier in Condrieu and an average of 3.58 for VdP Syrah. As
the result the 2012 wines from the Northern Rhône are charming and seductive in
style promising good balance in the near future, and whilst the wines should
drink well early they certainly possess good ageing potential.
Similarly to the Northern part of the Valley the 2012 winter was cold and very dry in the Southern Rhône. As a result the soils failed to accumulate sufficient levels of water opening the possibility for water stress during the summer months. Cold weather in January and February with frequent episodes of frost caused some damage in the vineyards, especially effecting old Grenache vines in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation. The month of March was equally dry but temperatures started to rise and this warm weather encouraged vegetative growth. April was a cool and exceptionally wet month slowing vine growth but overall it had a positive effect on the water levels meaning that to some extent, the soils managed to recover for the time lost in the dry winter months. Wet and humid conditions increased the pressure of fungal disease and our growers had to work hard in the spring months in order to avoid damage. Flowering in May and June was much more even than in the North of the Valley and this will have positive impact on the even ripeness and overall quantity of harvested crop. Summer finally arrived in the southern Rhône in early July with sunny and dry weather. Stable conditions without heatwaves continued until harvest. Relatively cool but mainly dry weather in September helped to preserve acidity levels and encouraged a profile of high fruit definition. Occasional episodes of summer rain were well timed and helped relieved water stress and accelerated skin ripening. The harvest started unhurriedly on the 14th September in Côtes du Rhone, on the 20th September in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and from the 25th September in Gigondas. Picking was in most cases finished during the first week of October. Unfortunately, there was no Mistral wind in the autumn of 2012 and so late ripening Mourvedre suffered as a result: most of the top cuvées have a reduced percentage of this variety in the final blend. Overall, the crop obtained was smaller than in an average year but was very healthy and showed very good sugar and skin ripeness. Refreshingly, there was a lack of high levels of alcohol with very few cuvées ending with more than 14.5% alcohol. Acidity levels were also very good with the pH in the whites averaging 3.55 and of reds 3.75. Most of our producers rated the quality of the obtained crop very highly with the southern Syrah enjoying a particularly successful 2012.
Neb Gusic, Director
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