Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Saint Joseph Le Berceau is more concentrated and powerful, and I’d put this up with the finest releases in the appellation. Dense purple-hued, with a great nose of black fruits, ground herbs, pepper, truffle, and smoke, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building, ripe tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. This beauty comes all from the lieu-dit Saint Joseph just outside of Mauves and the oldest vines of the domaine. It was 70% destemmed and brought up all in 228-liter French oak. It’s one of the top Saint Josephs in the vintage and will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and drink well over the following 10-15 years.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Gripa's 2019 Saint Joseph le Berceau is a superb effort from the domaine's oldest vines in the lieu-dit Saint-Joseph, with hints of cracked pepper adding nuance to the masses of black cherry fruit. It's full-bodied but not heavy, rich without being overly dense, velvety yet structured. And it's long and layered on the finish. In contrast to the regular cuvée, the oak here is less noticeable, balanced by the concentrated fruit. Bravo!
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
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.