Rhône 2022 – other southern reds

The stony soils at the base of the vines at Château Fonsalette

Our extensive coverage of 2022 in the Rhône Valley continues with a collection of red wines from the region's often overlooked appellations. Above, the stony soil beneath the vines at Château Fonsalette, the source of the top-scoring wines in this report.

Beyond Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras, the other southern Rhône crus I tasted fared much the same as the rest of the region, with some good wines and others that are a little bit tougher. Of the appellations reviewed below, I thought Cairanne performed the best overall, with plenty of succulent, medium-bodied wines that were attractive, fresh and accessible. Rasteau...