Red Rhone 1995: Drink now
Outstanding Cote Rotie. Full, tannic northern and southern reds, now starting to soften. Good winter drinking.
Weather Conditions
Problems at flowering in the north promised a small crop, but the grapes ripened well through a long dry summer. There was some rain, but not enough to damage the fruit, which was picked from 20 September in sunny conditions, and those who waited till October produced superb and concentrated wines. In the south there was rain too, but strong winds dried the grapes and kept them healthy.
Best Appellations
Northern Rhone: in some cases wines were comparable to 1990. Outstanding Côte Rotie. Southern Rhone: the best vintage since 1990.
Best Producers
Excellent Cote Rotie from Chapoutier, Guigal, Jamet and Rene Rostaing. Jaboulet’s finest Hermitage La Chapelle since 1990, but La Sizeranne and Le Pavillon were also superb. Very good Crozes from Graillot.
Superb Gigondas. Look to Domaine du Cayron, Clos de Cazaux, Cros de la Mure and Chateau du Trignon in particular.
