Gérard Bertrand : Villa Soleilla 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for the Villa Soleilla 2022 by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Appearance

Technically classified as a white wine from France made with skin maceration, this wine reveals an amber-gold colour of great clarity, enhanced by subtle orange highlights at the rim of the glass.

Nose

The aromatic bouquet stands out for its complexity. It releases scents of orange peel, grapefruit and bergamot, intertwined with notes of burnt sugar, vanilla and white flowers. Touches of garrigue, thyme, honey, candied fruit and white pepper enrich this palette.

Palate

Ample and unctuous, the palate offers a rich texture. Flavours of candied mandarin, dried apricot and hazelnut blend with nuances of cigar box, cedar and Earl Grey tea. A citrus freshness, driven by bitter lemon and lime zest, combines with pronounced salinity to balance the whole. The finish is dry, delicately bitter and supported by finely textured tannins.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs ideally with a lamb tagine, roasted vegetables with mild spices or mature cheeses. It also works beautifully with Mediterranean cuisine, seafood, as well as spicy Asian and Indian dishes.

Serving and cellaring

With significant ageing potential, the Villa Soleilla 2022 can evolve favourably in the cellar and be enjoyed until around 2052.

The aromatic richness and structure of a Languedoc orange wine

The estate

Founded in 1992 by the former rugby player of the same name, Gérard Bertrand has become an essential reference. The estate has established itself as the world's largest biodynamic-certified wine domaine. Today, Gérard Bertrand still leads the group, joined by his daughter Emma Bertrand as creative director. Driven by a philosophy that combines respect for biodiversity with technical mastery, the estate is dedicated to revealing the potential of southern France's terroirs through cuvées of outstanding quality.

The vineyard

The grapes come from six plots of old vines located on the Château l'Hospitalet estate, less than twelve kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea. This clay-limestone terroir, swept by sea winds, provides optimal drainage and naturally limits yields. Farmed according to biodynamic principles, this vineyard produces a Vin de France infused with the aromas of the surrounding garrigue and marked by a distinctive salinity.

Winemaking and ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand to respect the ripeness of each plot. The vinification of the Villa Soleilla 2022 begins with carbonic maceration in temperature-controlled tanks at between 21 and 25°C, using exclusively indigenous yeasts. At mid-fermentation, the free-run juice is transferred to French oak barrels, while the press juice is divided between terracotta amphorae, glass vessels and stainless steel tanks. After three to four weeks of skin maceration, ageing continues in these various vessels for eight months before bottling.

Grape varieties

This wine is a blend of Roussanne, Viognier and Vermentino.