WTN: 2004 Domaine de Villemajou Corbieres Languedoc France. Deep red color, deep hue,wonderful aroma of plums, roses, black fruit, very good fruit, but very tannic, and needs time to develop, long finish with excellent fruit notes. EG 2. 3*. Went very well with a light cheddar and crackers -- a pretty morning snack while waiting for our flight in Amsterdam.
Notes:
Wine of the Month: Domaine De Villemajou lies in the heart of the ancient Corbières, one of the two oldest and most important appellations of Languedoc - France's largest wine producing region. It is to Corbières that archeologists and historians trace some of the earliest evidence of the vine in France. The Phoenicians and ancient Greeks were drawn to the beauty of Corbières, which has long been renowned for its captivating scenery, and began colonizing this dramatic sweep of Mediterranean coastline by the fifth century BC. Greek colonists planted the first vines in Corbières, making this enchanted land the cradle of French viticulture for over 2,500 years.
Georges Bertrand, who was best known as one of the Languedoc's earliest 20th century visionaries, began the family domain of Villemajou. He sought to return the once glorious Languedoc to its former status as France's premier wine region, which it enjoyed before Phylloxera, and was well on his way to accomplishing his goal when he died prematurely in 1987. Fortunately for the Languedoc, Domaine De Villemajou, and the serious wine consumer, Georges left the wine world a legacy in his very talented son, Gérard.
Today, Gérard is known as one of France's most influential winemakers. He still resides at Domaine De Villemajou, transforming the traditional red Languedoc varietals: Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre into powerful but lush wines that speak of old vines, low yields and a deft hand. In addition to the highly acclaimed Domaine De Villemajou, Gérard Bertrand produces other award winning wines from single vineyard sites in nearby Minervois. All of Bertrand's wines are produced using sustainable agricultural methods and are hand harvested.
Vin Di Vino: 40% Carignan: 100+ year-old vines, 30% Grenache Noir: 40-50 year-old vines, 20% Syrah: 30-40 year-old vines, 10% Mourvèdre: 30-40 year-old vines. Hand picked and sorted. Whole clusters Carignan & Syrah placed in cement vats for 10-18 days of Carbonic maceration. Grenache & Mourvedre destemmed. Fermented for 15-20 days. Blended and aged in small French oak barrels, (30-40% new) from 10-12 months. Racked every 3 months. Not filtered. Bottled and aged for several months prior to release. Alcohol: 13%.
Gérard Bertrand website: http://www.gerard-bertrand.com/