Domaine Bernard Gripa : Le Berceau 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for the "Le Berceau" 2023 cuvée from Domaine Bernard Gripa in the Saint-Joseph appellation

Tasting

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with great floral delicacy, evoking hawthorn, honeysuckle and lime blossom. It then develops into aromas of stone fruits such as peach, apricot and mirabelle plum, enhanced by touches of citrus like candied lemon and blood orange. Subtle honeyed and toasted nuances from the aging process complete this olfactory profile.

Palate
The attack reveals itself as full-bodied and silky, offering a generous texture with a velvety touch. Powerful and rich, the palate unfolds flavours of roasted pineapple and pastry cream, underlined by a noble bitterness. There is a perfect balance between this richness and a beautiful mineral tension with saline and chalky accents. The well-integrated acidity brings freshness and precision, leading to a remarkably long finish.

Food and wine pairing
This white wine pairs wonderfully with roasted or braised noble poultry, particularly when accompanied by a creamy morel sauce. It also enhances luxurious seafood such as lobster or langoustine, a white truffle risotto, or even bolder pairings such as scrambled eggs with white asparagus and aged goat cheeses.

Serving and storage
To fully appreciate all the nuances of the "Le Berceau" 2023 cuvée, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. This wine has excellent aging potential and can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2033, or even beyond for lovers of more evolved wines.

The richness and minerality of a white wine from the Rhône Valley

The estate
Located in Mauves, the historic birthplace of the appellation, Domaine Bernard Gripa is a major reference in the Rhône Valley. Officially founded in 1974 by Bernard Gripa, the family estate made the bold choice of estate bottling. Today, his son Fabrice Gripa heads the sixteen-hectare domaine. Cultivating a rare balance between red and white grape varieties, the estate stands out for its deep commitment to sustainable viticulture, manual work on steep hillsides, and the preservation of very old vines, resulting in wines of great authenticity.

The vineyard
The grapes for this cuvée come from the historic hill of Tournon, located in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. This exceptional terroir is characterised by complex granitic soils that give the wine its mineral and saline signature. The vines, planted in 1920, are over a century old. They require exclusively manual work due to the steep slopes of the terraced hillsides, which prevent any mechanisation.

Winemaking and aging
After entirely manual harvesting, the grapes undergo slow and gentle pressing to preserve the purity of the fruit. The must is then left to rest for twenty-four hours for careful settling. The "Le Berceau" 2023 cuvée ferments using indigenous yeasts in 228-litre French oak barrels. Aging continues on fine lees with regular stirring until the completion of malolactic fermentation, bringing aromatic complexity and a smooth texture to the wine.

Grape variety
Marsanne (100%)