Magnum Saint-Joseph "Le Berceau" rouge 2023 Bernard Gripa | Rhône

On the granites of Mauves, in the historic heartland of the appellation's great Syrahs , Domaine Bernard Gripa 's aptly named Saint-Joseph rouge Le Berceau reveals the purity of this great Northern Rhône terroir. The poor granite soils of Saint Joseph 's steep terraces sculpt this pure Syrah, whose vibrancy is matched only by its perfect ripeness. On these steep slopes, where harvesting can only be carried out by hand, the wine estate harvests the grapes when they have reached optimum ripeness, to preserve the precision of the fruit. Two-thirds of the grapes are then destemmed, before undergoing natural fermentation in open vats for 2 to 3 weeks. Extraction remains deliberately measured to preserve the natural finesse of the tannic structure and the vibrant purity of the granite terroir. Ageing then continues for around a year in oak barrels.

Philippe Mischler, sommelier at Mundovin : Domaine Bernard Gripa 's Saint Joseph Le Berceau is probably one of the appellation's greatest red wines. As complex as it is precise, it unfolds remarkable aromatic depth wrapped in a ripe, energetic grain of tannin, typical of the great Syrahs on granite of the northern Rhône Valley.

On the nose, the intense expression of ripe Morello cherry, blackcurrant, wild blueberry, violet and Java pepper recalls the early profile of some great Côte-Rôtie wines. Beautiful tertiary notes with accents of smoke and leather add the extra depth typical of this Saint Joseph red cuvée.

The racy, powerful palate is almost sanguine in its youth. The finesse of the tannins and the tension that animates the ample body lend remarkable energy to this cru, whose marked flavors of wild berries and cherry pit coat the palate with brilliance. The complex aromas of bitter cocoa, licorice and leather are still on the back burner, but their potential to evolve over the next 15 years is obvious! The overflowing energy of the finish tightens the frame with a long, saline vibration.