St. Joseph Syrah

I love 21 N Rhone reds and it’s a throw back vintage to maybe 96/98? It’s so red fruited, classically structured and elegant. Like a symphony in 21 and not the recent guitar solo vintages.

Unreal nose of absolute harmony and so red fruited. A hint of barely ripe black cherry. Dried herbs. So heavenly. Crazy floral. Best young Gripa St Jo nose. Palate is so red fruited. So unusual for Gripa. Great depth and concentration and high acidity. Dusty, young and unformed finish but the red fruit really leaves it mark. It will fill in and gain finesse if it follows the trajectory of other 21’s. What a finish.

Now it’s more complex and so refined. Classic Mauves from yesteryear. 9.4 to 9.5. Juicy, tangy red berry fruit. So ethereal. Brilliant.

Today it is meatier on the nose but still red fruited mostly with some black fruits peeking through. Unreal spice and desiccated leaves. Tree bark as well and some smoke. Wild mint and lavender. Juicy and elegant and so nimble. Wow.

Huge expressive nose of cassis, blackberry, blueberry, smoke, granite and herbs. Superb spice and complexity. Really spectacular and open nose. Palate has wonderful richness and is dazzlingly pure. Sweet, silky and so refined. Wonderful, velvety tannins and superb density but light as a feather. So juicy and gamey. Like meat is interspersed between the fruit particles. So fresh and also rich. Best since 2015. Showstopper.

Smoke, cinnamon, blood, granite, red fruits, huge open aromas. Opulent, rich, ripe and super pure. Slips and slides. Good concentration and complexity.

Big Gripa nose. Brooding, layered and deep. Cocoa, dark red and black berries, so much granite, really lifted. Ethereal yet brooding. Like me. Meaty, gamey. Nose has terrific substance and depth. Palate is next level juicy and deep. Elegant and pure but also has the grit, granite and grime I love in Mauves St. Joseph. Elegant and substantial with a thick core of fruit and wonderful freshness. Thus has years ahead of it and it’s a bit stubborn on the finish. But I’ve had this bottling at its apogee many times and it always ages magnificently. So linear and straight. Just a lovely lovely wine.

Classic vintage and classic wine. Nose of cassis, deep berry fruit, smoke, menthol, granite, complex and forward. Giving. Palate is juicy and ripe, concentrated with great acidity and freshness. Really lovely energy and freshness here. Hasn’t aged a bit. Terrific ripe tannins and deep structure. Elegant. Has 20 years ahead of it. Good today. Much better 3-5 years.

One of the best. Love this vintage here. Nose of pepper, black fruits, some red as well, loads of granite, fresh moss and earth, palate is rich and ripe but also super refined and very accessible but no lack of structure or density while remaining very fresh and mineral. Long finish. Lots of material. Classic Mauves St. Joseph.

In the typical classic Mauves style. Think Pauilllac. Gorgeous nose. Sappy granite and dark berry fruits. Incredibly mineral. Deep oozy black berry fruit but backed up by intense minerals. Palate cuts a swath and has serious density, structure and ample tannin but at the sacrifice of freshness or finesse. These are not meant to be drunk young ideally. If so always decant 2-3 hours no matter the vintage.

just brilliant. Huge granite and super intense. Big, juicy and ripe.

Showing well. Blackberry and blueberry compote, violet, ash, cracked pepper, and garrigue. With air some really fun gamey and mineral notes began to show up. Great floral tones throughout especially on the palate. Tannins have certainly softened. I feel like this wine is upfront and immediate like most '09 Rhône wines I've had. Seemed a touch short.

Great nose. Meaty, peppery, dark almost black fruits. So clean. Super gravelly as well. Palate is firm and structured as young Gripa should be. This has stunning flavor hierarchy and delineation all with mind boggling freshness. Needs a few hours to come together but it is all there. Beautiful noble tannins and structured like an old school Bordeaux. Really one of the top wines in the appellation.

AFTER 5 HOURS - the nose is much more soil and granite driven now. Beautiful licorice and black fruits. Palate has fleshed out tremendously with wonderful dark fruit and vigorous yet ripe tannins. This could use 1-2 years to flesh out but it's a great wine.