Domaine Bernard Gripa Saint-Joseph Blanc 2019
- Vinous
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Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
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Parker
Robert
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
Vivid straw-yellow. Deep, mineral-accented aromas of pear and peach nectar, honey and pungent flowers. Broad and fleshy but surprisingly animated on the palate, offering succulent orchard and pit fruit flavors and a touch of bitter quinine. Shows a strong mineral quality on the long, spicy finish, which leaves a suggestion of fennel behind.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Jeb Dunnuck
The base 2019 Saint Joseph Blanc from Gripa is 70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne that was brought up in a combination of 600-liter barrels (50%), 228-liter barrels (30%) and stainless-steel vats (20%). Bright pineapple, honeyed currants, chamomile, and toasty spice all emerge on the nose, followed by a medium-bodied white offering wonderful purity of fruit, some obvious minerality, and a great finish.
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Decanter
A sense of lightness and freshness here, which is rare for a 2019 Saint-Joseph. Bright on the palate, fresh and delightful. Sandy mineral finish, and good length.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Honey, pear and pineapple aromas appear on the nose of the 2019 Saint Joseph Blanc. A 70-30 blend of Marsanne and Roussanne that was mainly barrel fermented and aged (20% went into tank and stayed there until the final blending), it's a medium to full-bodied effort, with a plump, fleshy mouthfeel and a lingering, more citrusy finish.
Full-bodied and flavorful, white Rhône blends originate from France’s Rhône Valley. Today these blends are also becoming popular in other regions. Typically some combination of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier form the basis of a white Rhône blend with varying degrees of flexibility depending on the exact appellation. Somm Secret—In the Northern Rhône, blends of Marsanne and Roussanne are common but the south retains more variety. Marsanne, Roussanne as well as Bourboulenc, Clairette, Picpoul and Ugni Blanc are typical.
Spanning the longest stretch of river in the northern Rhône—from Condrieu in the north, to Cornas in the south—the heart of St.-Joseph lies directly across the Rhône River from Hermitage. While its soils are basically the same as Hermitage: granite, supplemented by sand and gravel, its east facing slope receives less sunlight than Hermitage, which causes less overall berry ripening on its Syrah vines. However, some of the best of them can rival any fine expression of Hermitage, Cote-Rotie or Cornas with concentrated black fruits, dark spices, crushed rock and violets. A general advantage of the region is that its Syrahs typically don’t need as much time in the bottle compared to a Cote-Rotie or Hermitage and are much easier on the bank account!
A textbook St.-Joseph red is firm with a core of minerality that is enhanced by savory and peppery qualities. Aromas and flavors of smoke, olives, herbs, and violets are common; its wines are dense in red and black fruit.
St.-Joseph is also a source of fine northern Rhône white wine. Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne grow well here and can be blended or made into single varietal wines. St.-Joseph whites are full and silky with citrus, pear and pineapple flavors and a rich bouquet reminiscent of honeysuckle, toasted nuts, spice and caramel.