2020 Andre Perret Les Grisieres Saint Joseph, Northern Rhone

Lovely interplay of bitter-chocolate and spice character with elegant tannins on the ripe and rich palate of this impressive St.-Joseph. Turns from plush at the core to silky at the long finish. Drink or hold.

93 points jamessuckling.com

From an old-vine parcel south of Chavanay proper, the 2020 Saint Joseph les Grisieres (tasted from barrel) seems to have held onto more red-fruit character than the regular bottling. It's brighter and fresher yet also full-bodied, intense and wonderfully silky and elegant on the long finish. It should drink well close to release next year and for more than a decade thereafter.

My visit to Andre Perret's roadside winery in Chavanay is always one of the highlights of my Northern Rhône trip. Unfortunately, the 2020 Condrieus were being prepared for bottling and were unavailable for tasting. Still, there were a lot of other wines left to like, especially after having missed visiting in 2020. We were joined by his daughter, Marie, who returned to work at the domaine in 2019. André's delight and pride in her work was evident as she pulled barrel samples of the 2020 reds. While there's no doubt that climate change and the recent warm-weather vintages have stressed out growers in Condrieu by narrowing the available picking windows—sometimes seemingly down to just hours—Perret seems able to thread that needle year in and year out. And if the Condrieus from the top sites of Clos Chanson and Chery are spectacular, the reds from Saint Joseph are underrated.

93-95 points Joe Czerwinski robertparker.com

A selection of older vines and brought up in 20% new oak, the 2020 Saint Joseph Les Grisières offers a similar bouquet of framboise, ripe cherries, dried herbs, and pepper. It's concentrated, medium to full-bodied, has beautiful tannins, and a great finish. I think it's slightly better than the classic release, but not by much, and both are clearly outstanding wines.

93 points jebdunnuck.com

Deep magenta. Juicy red and dark Berry and floral scents sharpened by smoky mineral and spice flourishes. Sappy, and laser focused on the palate offering vibrant black raspberry, cherry, and violet pastille flavours that are that are complicated by salty olive and cracked pepper, flourishes. Fleshes out slowly with air, while maintaining energy, finishing bright, spicy an extremely long, displaying sharp clarity, discreet tannin and resonating florality this bottling, makes it case for being one of the very best St Joseph's of this vintage made with 20% whole clusters.

95 points Josh Raynolds vinous.com Dec 2022