2020 Domaine Bernard Gripa Saint-Peray Les Figuiers

Domaine Bernard Gripa own sixteen hectares of vineyards, based primarily around Mauves in the heart of the Saint-Joseph appellation. While Bernard is still assisting at the winery, it is his son Fabrice that now directs the winemaking activities for the family. Fabrice and his team work the steep and challenging terrain of the vineyards, which unusually for the area are planted half to white grapes and half to red grapes. Much of the vineyard holdings are old vines averaging 65 years of age, with some vineyards over 80 years old. In addition to Saint-Joseph, the Gripa family also own 3.5 hectares of Marsanne and Roussanne in white-grape-only appellation of Saint-Péray.

Les Figuiers is the Domaine’s top cuvée of Saint Péray, the southernmost appellation of the northern Rhône Valley, and is a blend of 40% Marsanne and 60% Roussanne from old vines over 50 years of age.

Other Reviews....
Almond nougat on the nose, medium-bodied, with a soft, pillowy, rounded texture. Really defined and precise, but still quintessentially Saint-Péray - like the Saint-Pérays of 10 years ago before the hot, dry weather of the past few years. Long, gently tremulous finish, not hugely deep, but tender and delicious. Hand-harvested Marsanne and Roussanne grown on clay limestone soils. Fermented in barrel then left on fine lees until the malolactic is finished, with some stirring of the lees. Drink 2022 - 2024.
94 points
Matt Walls - Decanter

60% Roussanne, 40% Marsanne.
Precise and fresh on the nose. Quince and pear notes. Great precision of fruit. Palate full and round but in balance. Freshness rather than acidity. Should gain in complexity. Drink 2022-2026.
16.5/20 points
James Lawther MW - jancisrobinson.com