Saint-Joseph blanc 2024 Bernard Gripa | Rhône

This cuvée of white Saint-Joseph from Domaine Bernard Gripa follows in the footsteps of a name that has been shaping the appellation's identity for decades. Produced from parcels combining granite, limestone and loess, the blend of predominantly Marsanne and Roussanne expresses all the finesse of this great Northern Rhône terroir. To preserve this precision and aromatic purity, the wine estate harvests its grapes by hand at perfect ripeness. The whole bunches are then slowly pressed before natural fermentation, which takes place mainly in oak barrels, with a proportion in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Ageing on fine lees combines demi-muids, barrels and a small proportion of vats, to sculpt the texture of the cuvée while retaining the natural freshness of the great white wines of the Northern Rhône.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : This white Saint Joseph illustrates Domaine Bernard Gripa 's stylistic mastery of the appellation. Ageing on the lees brings out the cuvée's volume and aromatic brilliance brilliantly, but it's its airy, delicate character that gets all the attention. A few years' cellaring and you'll have a veritable taste bomb!

On the nose, complex aromas of ripe stone fruit and citrus paste are generously revealed, evolving in the glass as aeration progresses towards notes of roasted hazelnut, candied ginger and sweet spices.

The palate is intense despite the vintage's youth, revealing a fleshy, ample body immediately balanced by delicate freshness. Round flavors of candied zest and ripe yellow fruit are complemented by lightly toasted nuances from ageing, while the lingering finish returns to a most appetizing mineral sapidity.