Uutiset
Jaboulet's Rhöne vintage report: The 1999 vintage will undoubtedly rank among the best wines of the last two decades.
After flowering a week earlier than in 1998, and in very favorable conditions, the vines suffered from climatic conditions during the summer period which required a fight against powdery mildew.
July was marked by a dry period during the first and last ten days of the month. The only significant rain occurred on the night of the 5th to the 6th. Temperatures were above average for the time of year, with maximum temperatures around 34 to 35°.
The wind was mainly from the north during this period.
The month of August was stormy during the second half, then a dry period set in, punctuated by several minor storms. The above-normal temperatures at the beginning of August fell under the influence of the Mistral (north wind).
September experienced very high temperatures (32°C) from the 10th to the 15th and ended with a strong storm on the 25th. The health and quality of the grapes were such that the storm of the 25th had no impact on the quality of the harvests. It started on September 14 with the Crozes 'Mule Blanche', followed by the whites from 'Domaine Roure', and ended with the Hermitage 'Chevalier de Stérimberg'. The harvesters, leaning on branches weighed down with golden grapes, had perfect climatic conditions.
Once the white grape harvest was finished, we continued with the red. This year, to go further in eliminating all traces of water, we tried to dry the vegetation by helicopter, as is done in Burgundy or in the Sauternes region. The test was very conclusive in terms of the number of diplomas obtained in the vat. The generous harvest (although hampered a little by the work at the start of the season on the vines) gives us a taste of the very good quality of our wines, with a rich and full body present in force in our whites. Red wines, like whites, were given a good acid-alcohol balance and the very first tank tastings gave a vision of red wines with an intensity of color perhaps never seen before.
I have the feeling that the 1999 vintage, red and white, rewarded the producer for all his work throughout the year.
The 1999 vintage is characterized by a paradox: exceptional quantity and quality!! Despite all the work done in the vines (heavy pruning, “green” harvests, thinning), even on the old vines on the upper slopes, the 1999 production was very high. This gave the wines a great richness of complexity and density. The white wines were difficult to press and the juice yield was quite low. They enjoy a nice acidity and they are “fat” in the mouth. The red wines have undergone a very long maceration and are therefore well colored and substantial wines. The well-dispersed but strong tannins give the wine great aging potential.