The Northern Rhône produces perhaps the world's finest Syrah wines from the slopes of Côte-Rôtie and the hill of Hermitage. Cornas, a particularly favoured part of Saint-Joseph, produces more vibrant, aggressive wines. The wines are more herby in the south with Châteauneuf-du-Pape being a blend of Grenache, Syrah and many other grapes. Gigondas is Châteauneuf's trusty lieutenant with nearby Vacqueyras and a growing list of Côtes-du-Rhône villages producing excellent, mostly Grenache-based reds.
2003 is a good vintage with some big, rich wines, particularly in the south. 2002 saw a lot of rain in some parts of the south, slightly better in the north. 2001 very good with concentrated and balanced wines in both north and south. In the north 1999 was a classic vintage 1998 and 2000 have given soft, full wines for medium term drinking. Châteauneuf has been very consistent with big, tannic wines in 1998 followed by fresher, softer wines in 1999 and 2000.
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