Severe frost in early April wreaked havoc across both the northern and southern appellations of the Rhône Valley in 2021, with many producers losing a large majority of their crop.
The reds that did materialise tend towards lean, green flavours, because grapes struggled to ripen. A few producers struck lucky, with late-budding varieties or pockets of vineyard less affected by frost.
But overall, it is the whites that really shine, showing freshness, precision and longevity.
St-Joseph, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise offer particularly good value this year.
Scroll down to see tasting notes and scores for Matt Walls’ best value Rhône 2021 wines
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<h2>Rhône 2021: best value wines at a glance</h2>
<h3><strong>Northern Rhone</strong></h3>
<p>Domaine Garon, Blanc, St-Joseph</p>
<p>M Chapoutier, Haut Chamblard, St-Péray</p>
<p>Domaine François Merlin, Rouge, St-Joseph</p>
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<p>Domaine Guy Farge, Harmonie, Cornas</p>
<p>Domaine Lionel Faury, La Gloriette Rouge, St-Joseph</p>
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<h3><strong>Southern Rhône</strong></h3>
<p>Domaine A Berthet-Rayne, Castel Mireio Blanc, Cairanne</p>
<p>Domaine la Ligière, Chemin Blanc, Vacqueyras</p>
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<p>Château Redortier, Rouge, Beaumes de Venise</p>
<p>Domaine des Bernardins, Rouge, Beaumes de Venise</p>
<p>Le Clos de Caveau, Fruit Sauvage Rouge, Vacqueyras</p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;"><strong>See also:</strong></h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/northern-rhone-2021-full-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492928/"><strong>Northern Rhône 2021 full report and top-scoring wines</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/cote-rotie-condrieu-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492945/">Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu</a> | <a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/st-joseph-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492947/">St-Joseph</a> | <a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/cornas-st-peray-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-493473/">Cornas and St-Péray</a> | <a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/hermitage-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492951/">Hermitage</a> | <a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/crozes-hermitage-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492950/">Crozes-Hermitage</a></strong></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">See also:</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/southern-rhone-2021-full-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492929/"><strong>Southern Rhône 2021 full report and top-scoring wines</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/chateauneuf-du-pape-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492933/">Châteauneuf-du-Pape</a> | <a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/gigondas-vacqueyras-beaumes-de-venise-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492934/">Gigondas, Vacqueyras and Beaumes de Venise</a> | <a href="https://www.decanter.com/premium/rasteau-cairanne-vinsobres-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492935/">Rasteau, Cairanne and Vinsobres</a> | <a href="https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews-tastings/lirac-tavel-2021-report-and-top-scoring-wines-492941/">Lirac and Tavel</a></strong></p>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">Rhône 2021 score tables:</h3>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com/rhone-2021-score-table/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>All</strong> <b>top <strong>Rhône 2021 score table</strong></b></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com/southern-rhone-2021-score-table/"><strong>Top-scoring southern Rhône 2021 score table</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com/northern-rhone-2021-score-table/"><strong>Top-scoring northern Rhône 2021 score table</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com/rhone-2021-score-table-top-red-wines/"><strong>Top-scoring 2021 red wines</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.decanter.com/rhone-2021-score-table-top-white-wines/"><strong>Top-scoring 2021 white wines</strong></a></p>
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<h2>Rhône 2021: best value wines by appellation:</h2>
<p><em>Below is a list of some of the best value wines within their appellation.</em></p>
<h3><strong>Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu</strong></h3>
<p>Benjamin &amp; David Duclaux, La Chana, Côte-Rôtie</p>
<p>Domaine Burgaud, Côte-Rôtie</p>
<p>Domaine François Merlin, Côte-Rôtie</p>
<p>Domaine Garon, Les Triotes, Côte-Rôtie</p>
<p>Domaine Garon, La Vieille Maison, Condrieu</p>
<p>Domaine Niero, Chérytage, Condrieu</p>
<p>Domaine Niero, Coeur de Roncharde, Condrieu</p>
<h3><strong>Cornas and St-Péray</strong></h3>
<p>Domaine Bernard Gripa, Les Figuiers, St-Péray</p>
<p>Domaine Guy Farge, Grain de Silex, St-Péray</p>
<p>Delas, Chante Perdrix, Cornas</p>
<p>Domaine A&amp;E Verset, Signature Verset, Cornas</p>
<p>Domaine Guy Farge, Harmonie, Cornas</p>
<h3><strong>St-Joseph</strong></h3>
<p>Domaine Alain Voge, Les Côtes Rouge</p>
<p>Domaine Coursodon, Paradis Saint Pierre Blanc</p>
<p>Domaine François Merlin, Rouge</p>
<p>Domaine Garon, Blanc</p>
<p>Domaine Guy Farge, Vania Blanc</p>
<h3><strong>Hermitage</strong></h3>
<p>Cave de Tain, Au Coeur des Siècles Blanc</p>
<p>Domaine du Colombier, Blanc</p>
<p>Domaine Laurent Fayolle, Les Diognières Blanc</p>
<h3><strong>Crozes-Hermitage</strong></h3>
<p>Domaine Aléofane, Blanc</p>
<p>Domaine des Combat, Cuvée Domaine Blanc,</p>
<p>Domaine Gaylord Machon, La Fille Dont J’ai Rêvé Blanc</p>
<p>Domaine Marc Sorrel, Blanc</p>
<p>David Reynaud, Beaumont Rouge</p>
<h3><strong>Châteauneuf-du-Pape</strong></h3>
<p>Château Sixtine, Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape</p>
<p>Clos du Mont-Olivet, Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape</p>
<p>Clos St Michel, Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape</p>
<p>Clos St Michel, Tradition Biologique, Châteauneuf-du-Pape</p>
<p>Domaine de la Solitude, Tradition Blanc, Châteauneuf-du-Pape</p>
<p>Domaine du Grand Tinel, Les Roussannes de Charles, Châteauneuf-du-Pape</p>
<h3><strong>Gigondas, Vacqueyras &amp; Beaumes de Venise</strong></h3>
<p>Château Redortier, Rouge, Beaumes de Venise</p>
<p>Clos de Caveau, Fruit Sauvage Rouge, Vacqueyras,</p>
<p>Domaine des Bernardins, Rouge, Beaumes de Venise</p>
<p>Domaine du Cayron, Gigondas</p>
<p>Domaine la Ligière, Chemin Blanc, Vacqueyras</p>
<p>Domaine Raspail-Ay, Gigondas</p>
<h3><strong>Rasteau, Cairanne &amp; Vinsobres</strong></h3>
<p>Domaine A Berthet-Rayne, Castel Mireio, Cairanne</p>
<p>Domaine Alary, L’Estévenas, Cairanne</p>
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<p>Domaine des Amadieu, La Copado, Rasteau</p>
<p>Domaine Pique-Basse, Rasteau</p>
<p>Famille Perrin, Les Hauts de Julien, Vinsobres</p>
<h3><strong>Lirac &amp; Tavel</strong></h3>
<p>Domaine Coudoulis, Euphorie, Lirac</p>
<p>Domaine Maby, La Fermade, Lirac</p>
<p>Château d’Aqueria, Tavel</p>
<p>Domaine de la Mordorée, La Reine des Bois, Tavel</p>
<p>Les Vignerons de Tavel, Domaine des Carteresses, Tavel</p>
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The best value Rhône 2021 wines to seek out:
Wines listed northern then southern Rhône, by colour and score.
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