Gérard Bertrand : Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1969

Tasting characteristics and advice for Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1969 by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Color

The color shows an amber hue with brick-red highlights, reflecting more than five decades of aging under oxidative conditions.

Nose

The nose reveals fine aromatic complexity with notes of dried fruits, notably apricots and dried cherries. Signature rancio aromas mingle with spicy touches, creating a rich, deep bouquet.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is smooth and elegant. Spices unfold harmoniously alongside flavors of bitter orange and candied fruit, while notes of roasted coffee enhance the finish, remarkably long and complex.

Food and wine pairings

This Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1969 pairs perfectly with blue-veined cheeses and walnut-based dishes. It also elevates spicy duck dishes and matches beautifully with intense dark chocolate. This wine can also be enjoyed on its own as a digestif, to fully appreciate its aromatic complexity.

Serving and aging

Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1969 can be served slightly chilled or at cellar temperature depending on preference. Its fortified structure and oxidative aging give it a remarkable capacity for long-term cellaring.

An outstanding fortified wine from Roussillon by Gérard Bertrand

The estate

Founded in 1992, the Gérard Bertrand house now stands as a global benchmark in biodynamic viticulture. Based in Narbonne, in the heart of Languedoc-Roussillon, the company manages seventeen estates spread over approximately 970 hectares, including 2,400 acres of certified biodynamic vineyards, making it the largest biodynamic vineyard in the world. Gérard Bertrand, a former international rugby player who turned to wine following the accidental death of his father in 1987, leads this family house, now joined by his daughter Emma. Named World’s Best Winemaker in 2023 by Drinks Business, Gérard Bertrand embodies the winemaking excellence of southern France and a pioneering commitment to environmentally respectful viticulture.

The vineyard

Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1969 comes from the Rivesaltes appellation, the largest production area for sweet wines in France. Located between the Mediterranean, the Albères and the Canigou, this region of Roussillon enjoys a particularly favorable Mediterranean climate. The soils of Rivesaltes display remarkable geological diversity: sandy granites, black and brown schists, red clay-limestone soils, stony terraces, and siliceous clays. This mosaic of terroirs gives the wines a unique complexity and identity, reflecting the richness of this exceptional area.

Winemaking and aging

Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1969 is made according to the traditional method for vins doux naturels. White varieties are vinified as juice after pressing, while red grapes macerate with their skins to extract color and tannic structure. Fortification takes place during fermentation with the addition of neutral grape spirit, stopping yeast activity and thereby preserving the fruit’s natural sugars. The wine was then aged in wooden barrels for several decades, gradually developing the complex oxidative aromas of rancio, dried fruits, and spices that define this exceptional vintage.

Grape varieties

Grenache Noir, Macabeu, Grenache Gris