Gérard Bertrand : Château La Sauvageonne "Grand Vin" 2015

Pleasant bilberry and undergrowth character; quite oaky and richly extracted, with hints of raisin and prune. A Douro-like extravagance here.

Dense dark ruby core. Rather layered nose with dark berries, tobacco, dry spices and fine oak. The palate is on the fuller side, youthful but with a rounded texture, grainy tannin, hints of cocoa bean and sweet spices, integrated oak, sweet fruit, ripe and sweet on the finish. Still needing some time to soften.

Spicy, refined, deep and enveloping, the Grenaches express themselves beautifully.

I loved the 2015 Terrasses du Larzac Grand Vin, and it’s a blend of mostly Syrah mixed with 36% Grenache and 11% Mourvèdre. Made by the team at Gerard Bertrand and from the northern part of the Languedoc, in the Terrasses du Larzac region, it has terrific notes of black currants, cassis, toasted bread, and a touch of leather on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, textured, and balanced, it’s a high-quality, well-made beauty to enjoy over the coming 7–8 years.