2022 St Joseph Les Grisieres
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A selection from the estate's older vines fermented with 20% whole clusters, the 2022 Saint Joseph Les Grisieres spent 22 months in barrel before bottling in July. It's slightly deeper ruby-hued compared to the classic cuvée and offers a gorgeous array of black raspberries, spring flowers, toasted spices, and subtle meaty, peppery nuances. It brings another level of vibrancy and purity, is medium to full-bodied, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish. Drink 2025-2040. Unquestionably, some of my favorite Condrieu and Saint Joseph continues to come from this tiny estate located just off route N7, south of Condrieu. The lineup includes three Condrieu cuvées, all made from Viognier planted on steep, granite-rich slopes. The base cuvée is always worth a case purchase, while Chéry and Clos Chanson come from older vines and bring more richness and complexity. The flagship Chéry comes from 50-year-old vines and is aged in a mix of stainless steel and oak, with 10-20% new wood. And while the Condrieu get most of the attention (and deservedly so), the Saint Joseph Blanc is terrific as well. As to the reds, the classic Saint Joseph comes from northern sites in the appellation, is destemmed, and aged in roughly 20% new 400-liter barrels. In top vintages, they also make a Les Grisières bottling from old vines, with a slightly longer élevage in 30% new oak. These are serious, age-worthy reds that can easily pass for Côte Rôtie in blind tastings. While André remains actively involved, he's now joined by his daughter Marie, who returned to the domaine in 2019 after working in California and Chile. As I've written many times, Rhône lovers need to have these wines in their cellars. For years, I would finish every Northern Rhône trip with lunch at Le Dôme in Paris and a bottle of Perret's Condrieu on the table.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
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Matured for 24 months in 400-liter barrels (20% new), the 2022 Saint-Joseph Les Grisieres reveals a dense, complex and elegant bouquet of licorice, dark wild berries, espresso and spices. Medium to full-bodied, tense and vibrant, it's layered with a structured tannic frame, nicely integrated in a fleshy core of fruit, concluding with a long, delicate and tense finish. Once the structured tannins recede (after four to five years of aging in the cellar), it should be an utterly excellent bottle.
The 2022 Saint Joseph Vieilles Vignes is cut from the same cloth yet brings more of everything, with impressive red and black fruits, medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of spice and graphite notes, and fabulous length on the finish. It's more concentrated, yet also more elegant. Unquestionably, some of my favorite Condrieu, as well as Saint-Joseph, emerges from this tiny estate located off route N7, just south of Condrieu. Releasing three Condrieu, you can’t go wrong with any of them, and the base cuvée is well worth a case purchase each year. The two single vineyards always bring more richness and complexity, but they both have their own style depending on the vintage. And while their Condrieu get all the attention, Perret’s Saint Joseph Blanc is always outstanding as well. As to the reds, the classic Saint-Joseph comes from sites all in the northern part of the appellation and is destemmed and aged in roughly 20% new 400-liter barrels. They’ll also do an old vine Saint-Joseph Les Grisières in top vintages, a vineyard selection that’s all destemmed and sees a slightly longer élevage in 30% new oak. They age beautifully, hitting prime time 4-6 years after the vintage, and evolve for 10-15 years thereafter. They’re easily mistaken for a Côte Rotie in blind tastings. Lastly, while Andre is still fully involved, he has been joined in the cellar by his daughter, Marie, who previously made wine in both California and Chile. As I’ve written many times, Rhône lovers need to have these wines in their cellars.
Aged for 24 months in 400-litre barrels. Cask sample. Tasted blind. A pretty nose with a floral character – violet – and blackberry. A sweet and generous attack with plentiful oak to support it. Certainly has a warmth and opulence to the fruit. The tannins are marked yet fine and at the moment it needs time to come together completely. Rich and robust. (AC)