North and South

Both regions of France’s Rhône Valley share in the success of the 2018 vintage

Vincent Avril tastes a grape in a Southern Rhône vineyard
Vincent Avril in the vineyards of his leading Southern Rhône domaine, Clos des Papes, whose 2018 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is one of the year's top wines. (Jon Wyand)

The 2018 vintage was a challenge for French winegrowers in the Rhône. In the end, however, producers in both the northern and southern portions of the region delivered another outstanding group of wines—velvety, ripe reds and juicy, opulent whites. Senior editor James Molesworth reviews the recent releases, shares his top picks and values and gives his overall vintage ratings.

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