2013 Gerard Bertrand Cotes du Rousillon Villages...

Tautavel Grand Terroir. Grenache/Syrah/Carignan labeled as 14% abv. This was one of two red wine bottles that fell off the table on Thanksgiving Day and broke so I went back to the store the day after Thanksgiving and finally got to try it at home. I enjoyed it. It has dark fruit and raspberry flavors accented by herbal notes. I think I'll go back this week for two more bottles and take one to an offline in Greensboro this weekend. It was about $22 at the retail shop and can probably be found for less in some places as North Carolina wine prices tend to run a bit high. I see that Hoke and Brian Miller have also tried this wine (perhaps a different vintage) and enjoyed it.

Gérard Bertrand took over the beautiful l'Hospitalet estate where I once stayed with the previous owners. They were a very hospitable couple (no pun intended) but I didn't like the very international style of their wines. Bertrand has been getting good reviews and has built up quite a négociant business in addition to his estate wines.

This TN finally persuades me to try one of his wines. My dislike of l'Hospitalet's former style has unfairly carried over to deter me from sampling Bertrand's efforts.

Semi Off-Topic: To me, based on limited experience, Bertrand reminds me of some of the basic Antinori Italian bottlings. They "should" be more "international", but I am always surprised at how Italian those wines taste at the sub $20 level (west coast).

Bertrand is a huge producer, but I always like the herbal "Provencal" character. My experience is limited, so I would love to read Tim's impressions! Especially given that they are readily available always at the local "nice" supermarket.

Tim: I think investigating the Bertrand wines would be a good thing.

I would suggest the Tautavel---perhaps a bit more tuned and focused than the Cotes du Roussillon---and the Corbieres as being a couple of the best examples. Of course now that the Corbieres is in the latest WS 100 rankings, it will likely accelerate in price, but that's what happens.

I have also heard that the Fitou is quite good, but haven't had that one myself.

My first investigation of a wine from Bertrand has not convinced me. Indeed it resembles the wines that his predecessors at L'Hospitalet used to make. However, there is no lack of opportunity for me to continue my investigation as his offerings proliferate on supermarket shelves.

2013 Gérard Bertrand Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac Château La Sauvageonne Cuvée Les Ruffes - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Les Terrasses du Larzac (12/23/2016)
This was my first experience of a wine from Gérard Bertrand and not a very good one. The problem for me was an excessively prominent vanilla and caramel infused patina from barrel ageing which obscured my appreciation of its medium/full body, rich sweetish fruit and its liquorice and port touched finish. It's possible that the flavours will integrate better with more age but I expect my 3 year olds from Languedoc to be already enjoyable.

Posted from CellarTracker