The wines of the Rhone Valley are enjoying a return to form after a difficult 2008 vintage, according to one wine expert.

Weather patterns in the region were not kind to the vines in the summer of 2008, resulting in a poor season for vintners, according to Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Enthusiast.

In 2009, the dry and warm temperatures presented their own problems, although these were much more manageable for growers in the Rhone Valley.

With the temperatures high, the Rhone's 2009 vintage includes a number of "jammy" wines, cursed by over-ripeness, Mr Czerwinski explains.

There are also a number of wines that have seen this over-ripeness translate into an extremely high alcohol content, particularly in the south of the region, where coarse tannins can also be found.

However, there are also some excellent wines available from the Rhone's 2009 stock, providing a refreshing alternative to the highly-priced Bordeaux from the same year.

Michel Gassier, proprietor of Chateau de Nages in the southern region of Costieres de Nimes, told the publication that the 2009 vintage echoes the revered 2005, saying his vineyard's produce is "classic in style, harking back to '05 in its tannic structure".

Jerome Coursdon, who co-runs the family vineyard in Saint-Joseph, deems his 2009 "a very good vintage, with good concentration and soft tannins … if it had a bit more acidity, it would be great".

What's more, fellow winemaker Olivier Clape says that the 2010 vintage is expected to be even better - possibly even a true classic - offering more balance and freshness.

Wine guru Robert Parker has long been a fan of Rhone Valley wines.

The expert recently handed over responsibility for The Wine Advocate's California reviews to Antonio Galloni, choosing to restrict himself to grading wines from the Rhone, as well as the top Bordeaux labels, such as Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Latour.