The age of the vines is a factor of quality; in fact, vines 50, 80 years old and more are at the origin of the best vintages in France.

The older the vines, the deeper their roots sink into the ground. At Gérard Bertrand, the vineyard of Château de Villemajou in Corbières is made up of century-old vines growing on a harsh terroir, between winds and an arid climate. The roots of these vines sink scrupulously into these soils of rolled pebbles with limestone blocks carried from the Pyrenees. They are rooted on a base of clay and sandstone in search of water and to fight against the wind. They then develop better control of their water regulation . Even if after a few years, the grape berries become smaller and produce less juice, their skin concentrates the tannic matter.

Thus promoting better structured wines, with a more qualitative and more complex aroma . For this, the vines must be lovingly cared for. Then, the monitoring of the vinification can continue in optimal conditions, with the aim of obtaining richer and more concentrated wines. In addition, old vines are often ungrafted, offering different silky, harmonious and fresh tactile sensations in the mouth when tasted. And most tasters find them better. Since the aromas are finer and defined like lace. Thus, they are delicate and without exuberance. This is due to the fact that the grapes have a total and deep maturity . This is what is called phenolic maturity . This maturity of the skins and seeds promises Great Wines . It is true that the vine when it is not overgrafted is free of the elements that it needs to draw from its soil. So, it is naturally programmed to choose only the constituents according to its own physiology to produce grapes of unrivaled concentration and balance.

A communion between the expression of terroir and that of the grape variety

The difference with standard wines is also in the level of precision viticulture on exceptional plots . Indeed, qualitative excellence is also obtained thanks to the exposure and microclimate on which the vines flourish. This meticulous viticulture does not only serve to develop the aromatic profile of a grape variety. It is magnified in a communion between the expression of terroir and that of the grape variety . However, a Great Red Wine is also a wine that with all its excellence is also identified with an appellation . So, the Great Red Wines are unique wines that express each of the original nuances of the great wine-growing terroirs . The typicality of the Domaine de Cigalus is an example of this: the grape varieties of Merlot, Cabernet-Franc and Cabernet-Sauvignon, Caladoc, Syrah , Mourvèdre and Carignan are cultivated on a mosaic of terroirs in the Aude region between Ocean, Mountain and Sea.

And also a total respect for nature, with practices aimed at preserving and promoting the biodiversity present on the wine estate depending on the geographical cradle.

Bottles of Great White Wines from the South also intended for aging

A Great Wine is identified by its ability to “age well”. This is the case of the Great White Wines of Gérard Bertrand . For this, know-how is essential. Because normally, the cooler the days, the more acidity is present in the grapes. And it is this which becomes a major component making the white wine suitable for laying down or not . Except that at Gérard Bertrand , the Great White Wines are cultivated in Biodynamics, promoting good acidity, an asset in sunny vintages. Indeed, with this cultivation technique, the microbial activity of the soils is flourishing, which results in the production of quality white grapes . In addition, the exposure of the vines at altitude also naturally affects the structure of the wine .

This is why the Domaine de l'Aigle, located at the foot of the Pyrenees at an altitude of over 500 metres, benefits from a geographical location that accentuates the freshness of the climate, of an oceanic type with a semi-continental tendency. This intensifies the thermal amplitude between day and night. Thus, the maturation of the grape berries is done gradually in order to preserve the acidity and guarantee the aromatic precision of the Grand Vin Blanc du Domaine de l'Aigle , vintage 2013.

In the past, this summit of the Limoux terroir was considered in 1531 by the Abbey of Saint-Hilaire. And the people of Champagne and Burgundy had understood that this part of Languedoc could give birth to Great Wines . However, in Languedoc, the range of grape varieties responds to the conservation of the genetic resources of the vine in close connection with local biodiversity. Thus, thanks to ampelography , that is to say the science of the vine, the genetic capital specific to indigenous grape varieties less sensitive to drought and resistant to diseases is selected to affirm the regional identity of the Great White Wines . Consequently, these factors influence the quality of the wine in connection with the alcohol content and the content of phenolic compounds. Clearly, this singularity gives these high-end wines a designated place in the world of gastronomy. However, they are a pure delicacy before and between meals.

Selection of Great White Wines from Gérard Bertrand