Great White Wines: the art of Mediterranean refinement at Gérard Bertrand

Great White Wines are also found in the Mediterranean basin. Even if the Great White Wines of Alsace and Burgundy are the best known. In Languedoc-Roussillon, the synergy between the terroir, the grape varieties and the know-how ensures exceptional bottles of Great White Wines . Because yes, finesse, complexity and aging potential are all present in the Great White Wines of Gérard Bertrand . This art of refinement in Languedoc is far from the outdated image that we have. These wines carry within them the quintessence of their Mediterranean region, thus restoring all their nobility to the Great White Wines of the South . But how is it possible to produce exceptional White Wines, in the sunniest climate of France?

Great White Wines from old vines

The age of the vines is a factor in quality; in fact, vines aged 50, 80 years and over are the source of the best vintages in France.

The older the vines, the deeper their roots go into the soil. At Gérard Bertrand's, the vineyard of Château de Villemajou in Corbières is composed of century-old vines growing on a harsh terroir, between winds and an arid climate. The roots of these vines scrupulously sink into these soils of rolled pebbles with blocks of limestone carried from the Pyrenees. They are rooted on a base of clay and sandstone in search of water and fighting against the wind. They then develop better control of their water regulation . Even if after a few years, the grape berries become smaller, producing 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 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 also lies in the precision viticulture on exceptional plots . Indeed, qualitative excellence is also achieved thanks to the exposure and microclimate in 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 Grand Vin Rouge is also a wine which, with all its excellence, is also identified with an appellation . So, the Grands Vins Rouges are unique wines which 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 terroir 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 according to the geographical cradle.

Synergy of terroir, grape variety and know-how: the art of Mediterranean refinement

The ancient white grape varieties of Languedoc offer an unforgettable taste experience. The diverse aromas of southern white wines excite both professional tasters and novices.

While for a long time, in the world of sommellerie and oenology, it was Burgundy Chardonnays , Alsatian Rieslings and Loire Sauvignons which held the top spot on the podium for high-end white wines . Mediterranean white grape varieties also offer distinguished , complex and unique Grands Vins Blancs that age gracefully. This organoleptic journey to the land of the Mediterranean draws the synergy between the terroir and the grape variety magnified by transgenerational know-how sculpting the identity of the wine. However, the Grenache-Blanc , Vermentino , Viognier and Roussanne grape varieties of the Grand Vin Blanc from Château La Sauvageonne deliver notes of hawthorn and violet underlined by almond and apricot upon tasting, expressing the art of Mediterranean refinement.

It is during food and wine pairings that the aromas of these iconic white wines compose a concordant bouquet with a harmonious touch in the mouth restoring all their letters of nobility to the Great White Wines of Languedoc . The complex aromatic palette of the Grand Vin Blanc of Château L'Hospitalet composed of aromas of citrus, white fruits, freshness and a minerality typical of the wines of La Clape supported by the Mediterranean characteristics of the white grape variety, Bourboulenc . It delivers its singing accents of garrigue with iodized minerality, typical of this terroir raised between truffle and olive groves imbuing the wines of the estate with excellence.

However, blending is not the rule for a Grand Vin Blanc . Some interpretations are made from a single grape variety, such as Chardonnay , from Domaine de l'Aigle, restoring to its fullness the character common to the great whites of the Mediterranean , their subtle aromas of garrigue and maquis, carried by a gentle bitterness and a mineral sensation ensuring freshness.

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 aging or not . Except that at Gérard Bertrand , the Great White Wines are cultivated using 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 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, which is oceanic with a semi-continental tendency. This intensifies the temperature amplitude between day and night. Thus, the maturation of the grape berries occurs 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 panel 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 Great White Wines . Consequently, these factors influence the quality of the wine in connection with the degree of alcohol and the content of phenolic compounds. Obviously, 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.

List of Great White Wines: