Rhône 2010 for laying down
Two great vintages in a row seems almost too much to hope for but, following closely on the heels of the opulent 2007, this is exactly what has happened in the Rhone Valley. 2009 & 2010, however, are two different animals, possibly comparable with 2005 and 2009 in Bordeaux, with 2009 being the blockbuster on both occasions. Marc Perrin, of the highly successful family wine-producing operation, summed the vintage up very neatly by describing it as ’chic’. The substantial variation in temperature between day and night retained the freshness and acidity of the wine beautifully while the nicely-judged weather pattern ensured an impressive volume of fruit backed by fine, ripe tannins. With a slightly lower level of alcohol and a little more finesse than the 2009 vintage, these wines have a very attractive degree of ’light and shade’ and will be candidates for early drinking. What with Burgundy as well, there may it seems to be almost too much good wine about at the oment but there have always been frustratingly lean decades to endure and the wise virgins amongst us will be making the most of these years of plenty to make sure that we never have to drink ’also rans’. Anthony Barne M.W. |
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Northern Rhône | |
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