Domaine Jean-Louis Grippat, Saint-Joseph 1995

Jean-Louis Grippat is one of the great producers in the history of the Northern Rhone. While he retired a quarter-century ago - ‘98 is the last vintage he ever bottled - his wines remain the high-water mark for traditional Saint-Joseph. Like Gentaz in Cote-Rotie and Verset in Cornas, bottles from Grippat are an increasingly rare look at a past era. Meaty, savory, and intensely aromatic, with Burgundy-like finesse. These are true reference-point wines for any fan of old-school syrah.