The land

The Northern Rhône is a narrow corridor running roughly 50 miles from Vienne in the north down to Valence. The vineyards are perched on steep, terraced granite and gneiss slopes on both sides of the river. The climate is continental, the soils thin, the slopes so steep that mechanization is impossible — much of the work is done by hand or with winches. The northern half (Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph north) is cooler and more aromatic; the southern half (Hermitage, Crozes-Hermitage, Cornas, Saint-Joseph south) is warmer and more powerful.

The appellations

Côte-Rôtie (Syrah ± Viognier, the most aromatic). Condrieu (100% Viognier, white). Château-Grillet (Viognier, tiny). Saint-Joseph (Syrah, the value benchmark). Crozes-Hermitage (Syrah, broader plateau, more variable). Hermitage (Syrah, the most powerful and longest-lived). Cornas (Syrah, brawny, traditional). Saint-Péray (Marsanne and Roussanne, white, sparkling).

Style of the wines

Northern Rhône Syrah is defined by its peppery profile — the compound rotundone is so pronounced you can almost identify the region blind. Beyond that: blackberry, violet, smoked bacon, olive tapenade, and a stony minerality from the granite. Tannins are firm but fine-grained, acid is moderate to high, alcohol typically 13-14%. The white wines (Condrieu, white Hermitage) are also serious, particularly the rare bottlings of aged white Hermitage.

Vintages to know

2022 — concentrated, balanced, age-worthy. 2020 — outstanding. 2019 — exceptional reds. 2018 — generous and forward. 2017 — classical. 2015 — powerful, age-worthy. 2010 — legendary. See the full ratings at /encyclopedia/vintage-chart/.

In the BWM cellar

Domaine Jamet in Côte-Rôtie is our marquee — across both slopes, made at the very highest level. Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle is the historical reference for Northern Rhône power. Domaine Faury Saint-Joseph is the everyday value pick — pure character at half the money. Vincent Paris in Cornas rounds out the bench. Browse the full Northern Rhône hand at /regions/northern-rhone/, and see /northern-rhone-syrah-boulder/ for more.