Sparkling wines
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