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Six Rhône producers on the down-low you need to know about

Matt Walls picks six producers that weathered the slings and arrows of the 2024 vintage to produce an exceptional array of wines worth selecting for your cellar.

A wet spring and a chilly September made for a challenging year in the Rhône in 2024 – there are some brilliant wines, but it’s inconsistent.

A handful of producers played the vintage with flair however, making desirable wines across the board.

It would be of no surprise to Rhône lovers if this list included revered estates such as Domaine Jean-Louis Chave in the Northern Rhône and Clos des Papes in the south, however.

Here then are six smaller, under-the-radar producers that excelled in 2024.

François et Fils

If you visit the François brothers, Yoann and Erwan, you might be surprised to encounter a herd of 25 cattle on their estate – but milk and cheese is still their main source of income.

They also have a few hectares of Côte-Rôtie however, including prize parcels of lieux-dits Les Rochains and Rozier.

The family started bottling in 1991, but it was Yoann’s arrival in 2004 that helped this side of the business take off. In good vintages, their cuvée classique can represent a very smart buy.


Six Rhône producers to know


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