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2016-rhone-vintage

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2016 Rhône Vintage (JLL / drinkRhone.com)

Summary

2016 is a year of harmony in the North and an exceptional vintage in the South — particularly at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where JLL considers it the best since 1990 and superior to 2015. The Northern reds possess charming, open fruit with a Burgundian ability to amplify and blossom over time. In the South, an exceptional September allowed growers to take their time on the harvest, producing wines of superb balance — something that had often been absent in the power years of the 1990s and 2000s. This is the vintage JLL repeatedly recommends stocking up on.

Northern Rhône

Overview

JLL’s first impression: “a year of harmony.” Wet weather in May and June brought mildew pressure, and growers who weren’t on top of treatments suffered crop loss. Yield levels were high overall, except at Hermitage, where L’Hermite was ravaged by April hail.

The reds and whites are both aromatic and agreeable, with pure, accomplished fruit quality. This is especially noticeable at Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage, and Côte-Rôtie. JLL and producers consistently cite 2016 as the cooler, more “classic” vintage in the run of hot years (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019).

By Appellation

  • Côte-Rôtie — Charming, open fruit; Burgundian amplification over time. A classic-style vintage that Allemand himself prefers to the hotter years.
  • Hermitage — L’Hermite ravaged by April hail, reducing yields there. But the wines that were made are aromatic and pure.
  • Cornas — Especially notable for pure, accomplished fruit. A welcome reprieve from the heat of the surrounding vintages.
  • Crozes-Hermitage — Aromatic, agreeable; the kind of fresh, frisky style that made the appellation’s name.

Southern Rhône

Overview

JLL: “2016 is an exceptional vintage at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and is very good indeed elsewhere. Perhaps 2016 will be the vintage that re-establishes Châteauneuf-du-Pape as the source of serious, well-balanced red wines.”

As with 1990, 2016 produced a large crop, with growers able to take their time during an exceptional September (temperatures still in the high 20s°C at month’s end). JLL considers 2016 superior to 2015 in the Southern Rhône.

By Appellation

  • Châteauneuf-du-Pape — Exceptional. Well-balanced, serious reds with balance that had often been absent in recent power years. Clos des Papes red six stars (“enormously, majestically deep and long”). Charvin CdP red five stars (“a major wine”). Rayas Pignan: “What a nose — boom! Pure, true, STGT wine.”
  • Gigondas — Very good. Full reports posted.
  • Vacqueyras — Very good reds and whites.
  • Tavel — Extremely well-fruited wines that fill the glass with assured length.
  • Côtes du Rhône — 2016 reds extremely well-fruited, filling the glass, extending with assured length. High number of w.o.w. wines.
  • Costières de Nîmes — Also well fruited.
  • Whites — Very good, combining good-quality gras with freshness.

Top Wines

Northern Rhône

  • Allemand — Thierry’s own preferred style year; the cooler vintage suits his aesthetic
  • Clape Cornas — pure, accomplished fruit from the classic terroir

Southern Rhône

  • Clos des Papes red — six stars; “enormously, majestically deep and long”; ranked alongside 2019, 2010, and 1990 as the grandiose years
  • Charvin CdP red — five stars; “a major wine from that excellent vintage”
  • Château Rayas Pignan — “What a nose — boom! Pure, true, STGT wine”
  • Château Rayas white — “Elegant depth. A Seigneur alongside the Monsieur of Fonsalette blanc”
  • Vieux Télégraphe Clos La Roquète blanc — STGT
  • Vieux Télégraphe La Crau — JLL’s data shows this was a strong vintage for the estate

Key Themes

  1. The classic vintage in a hot era. 2016 stands alone as the cool, balanced year in the run of 2015-2019. Both JLL and producers like Allemand cite it as the preferred style year. It is the benchmark against which the hotter vintages are measured.

  2. Châteauneuf-du-Pape’s redemption. JLL explicitly positions 2016 as potentially re-establishing Châteauneuf’s reputation for serious, balanced reds after years of overblown power wines. The 1990 comparison is deliberate and significant.

  3. The vintage to stock up on. JLL recommends buying 2016 over 2017 repeatedly. Given the power and heat of the surrounding vintages, 2016 may prove to be the most food-friendly and longest-aging vintage of the decade.

Sources

  • sources/articles/JLL/rhone_vintage_reports.json — “2016 Northern Rhône” and “2016 Southern Rhône” (JLL / drinkRhone.com)

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