Bernard Gripa, St Joseph Blanc 2021

Description

About the Producer

Domaine Bernard Gripa lies in the small village of Mauves on the West bank of the majestic Rhône. Is one of the old-line domaines in the heart of the original St-Joseph appellation with vines in Mauves and Tournon. To the North is Vienne and Valence is to the South. The village of Mauves faces steep mountain slopes terraced into vineyards. The Gripa family has a multi-generational history in the village and their family winemaking traditions still remain key to the operations of the Domaine today. Fabrice Gripa, current custodian, looks after the Domaine with the help of his father Bernard Gripa. All year long, Fabrice and his determined team, undertake every task in the vineyard by hand, as no machine is capable of accessing the steep and challenging terrain of the vineyards. The Domaine is composed of sixteen hectares of vineyard – half white wines and half red wines – a unique combination within the village. Sixteen hectares are owned by the Gripas, with 3.5 hectares under the appellation of Saint-Péray – a truly rare white producing appellation, amongst a sea of neighbouring reds. The rest of the Domaine is planted under the Saint-Joseph appellation, with a few different cuvées highlighting and celebrating the different terroirs. The Saint Joseph vineyards of Syrah, Marsanne and Roussanne are planted on complex granite soils and the Saint-Péray on clay and limestone. Even more unique, the Domaine’s vineyards average 65 years of age, with some vineyards over 80 years old – a rarity and treasure. Domaine Gripa’s wines are all made traditionally and masterfully express their origin. The four cuvées of Saint Joseph and the two cuvées of Saint-Péray undergo their maturation in French oak barrels of different sizes and age to slow down the ferocity of their natural acid and tannic complexity. Two cuvées of Saint-Joseph white and red called “Berceau” are made from the oldest vineyards, in the best climats of the Domaine.