PIERRE GONON'S NEIGHBOR, THE TENACIOUS BERNARD GRIPA
On offer this week it's our pleasure to bring you Bernard Gripa, one of the members of the Gang of Mauves, a pioneering group of traditionalists in Saint-Joseph who have steered the region into a new era of outstanding, age-worthy and intellectual wines. Venturing into these granite hillsides, you'll find the greatest and most historic terroir centered around three main villages: Mauves, Tournon-sur-Rhone, and St-Jean-de-Muzols. Bernard Gripa is one of the top grower's in the village. Alongside the impossible-to-get and other-wordly Pierre Gonon wines, Gripa's present well and with a touch more polish. They also remain priced in this atmosphere. The entry-level Saint Joseph is a ripe, suave soldier from the warm 2019 vintage. It rewards early drinking with its elevated alcohol levels and smooth tannic structure. Only 2,000 bottles are produced of the Berceau bottling, and grapes are sourced from ancient 1920s and 1950s vines from the aptly named lieu-dits of Saint-Joseph and Peygros. It's a big wine, with dark fruits and earthy surrounds framed by a spicy chewy texture. It will age and the 2017 vintage in particular is structured by grippy, meat-biting tannins. For those looking to explore important Northern Rhone producers, this is the next on your list.
