Gerard Bertrand
2023 Gérard Bertrand Heritage An 825 Crémant de Limoux Brut with Dinner
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The Wine – “Wine is bottled Poetry” – Robert Louis Stevenson
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Recently picked up a couple of these bottles at a local event after tasting the wine. At the tasting, while going through six or seven different wines, this stood out as being the best I tasted that evening.
The wine is made up of four varieties of grapes: Chardonnay (58%), Chenin blanc (28%) and Pinot Noir (14%). Gérard Bertrand Heritage An 825 Crémant de Limoux Brut is a traditional-method French sparkling wine from Languedoc. The wine can be found for around $21 and comes in at 12% alcohol.
A quick refresher that Crémant is a French sparkling wine made outside the Champagne region using the traditional bottle-fermentation method. Key features include regional variety, lower cost, and a creamy texture. They use the méthode traditionnelle, meaning the second fermentation happens inside the bottle. Named for crème (cream) because of its soft and fine bubbles.
First on the eyes a light golden color with aromatics of honey, green apple and brioche. On the palate definite structure and elegance giving way to sips of enjoyment. The small bubbles only added a finesse and light quality to the wine. The winery states “the Chenin adds vivacity and enhances longevity.”
Light, refreshing and uplifting would best describe this wine.
The Food and Wine Pairing – “Food without wine is a corpse; wine without food is a ghost. United and well matched, they are as body and soul: living partners” – Andre Simon
Photo ©Michael Kelly
The meal this evening was called Chicken and Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan cheese. Ingredients include penne pasta, EVOO, skinless chicken breast cut into bite-size pieces, kosher salt, ground pepper, minced garlic, dry white wine, lemon zest, lemon juice, unsalted butter, grated Parmesan cheese and fresh spinach. Accompanied by a fresh garden salad.
Enjoyed the meal and especially the pairing with the chicken bites and fresh Parmesan cheese. A very good food and wine pairing despite the spinach that normally calls for high acidity to balance the earthy and slightly bitterness of the spinach.
The Winery
Gérard Bertrand reveals the history of the great terroirs of the South of France. The first written trace of the Abbey of Saint Hilaire date back to 825. The Abbey is located near Limoux and is famous for having housed the monks who discovered the secret of effervescent wines.
Gérard Bertrand produces an estimated total volume of 12 to 15 million bottles of wine annually across its entire portfolio. Roughly half make it to the USA. The vineyards cover approximately 6,000 acres in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. They generate around $180 million annually. Fully one third of their production is their Rosé (led by their popular label Cote des Roses). The balance are wine varieties such as Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Pino Noir and Syrah.
Currently they have seven major brands which are Cote des Roses, Gris Blanc, Heritage, French Cancan, Hampton Water, Legend Vintage and Rouge Clair.
Gérard Bertrand has been committed since 2002 to the path of biodynamic viticulture.
Sláinte,
Michael Kelly
Education and Tasting Session on Gérard Bertrand Wines & Languedoc, France
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Attended a seminar and tasting of Languedoc-Roussillon wine region and tasting of various wines from Gérard Bertrand Thursday evening. The event was held at Vinum55 in Scottsdale. Reed was the main presenter from a local distributor. She was extremely knowledgeable about the region and specifically the wines being poured.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Also assisting in the presentation was Vinum’s own Shelly Fitzgerald, Wine Director at Vinum55 and assisting a newly hired person from Gérard Bertrand Wines.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
Gérard Bertrand Wines produces roughly 20 million cases of wine! While many are on the lower end commercial side, the winery produces some boutique and artisan wines of distinction. Lauren selected some unique wines from several of their sites throughout the region for the group to enjoy.
Map courtesy of AFG
Wines selected were:
*2023 Crémant de Limoux sparkling consisting of Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Pinot Noir grape varieties. Priced at $33/bottle.
*2023 Castellum Sauvignon Blanc. Priced at $44/bottle.
*2024 Domain de L’Aigle Chardonnay. Priced at $43/bottle.
*2022 Close du Temple Rosé. This won the distinction as the Best Rosé in the World! It consisted of GSM and Cinsault grape varieties. Priced at $220/bottle.
*2022 Cigalus Rouge. This was a combination of eight wine varieties: Merlot, Syrah, Grenache Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Caladoc, Carignan and Mourvèdre. Priced at $52/bottle.
And for the final wine of the evening was 2018 Clos d’ Ora that was rated 98 points and consisting of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Priced at $254/bottle.
Photo ©Michael Kelly
My personal favorite and scoring highest (on my rating system) was the sparkling Crémant de Limoux.
Very much enjoyed getting more familiar with the region as so many others are much more well known in France. The intriguing quality of wine knowledge is that the glass is bottomless!
Slainte,
Michael Kelly