Gérard Bertrand : Château La Sauvageonne "Grand Vin" 2012

Tasting characteristics and advice for Château La Sauvageonne "Grand Vin" 2012 Blanc by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a pale gold hue with luminous highlights.

Nose

The nose unveils a delicate bouquet of white flowers, accompanied by aromas of white-fleshed fruit. Mineral notes bring an additional dimension to the aromatic profile.

Palate

On the palate, this white wine charms with its richness and creaminess. Its roundness and breadth are harmoniously balanced by lovely freshness. Aging in oak barrels lends delicate notes of gingerbread and tobacco, enriching the flavor profile without overpowering the expression of the terroir.

Food and wine pairings

This white wine is best enjoyed as an aperitif or pairs perfectly with grilled fish and shellfish.

Serving and cellaring potential

Château La Sauvageonne "Grand Vin" 2012 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C.

A white wine from Languedoc born of an outstanding volcanic terroir

The estate

Gérard Bertrand, a former international rugby player turned visionary winemaker, now heads a 930-hectare wine group cultivated entirely biodynamically. Since taking over the family estate in 1987 at the age of twenty-two, he has transformed the image of Languedoc on the international stage. A pioneer of biodynamic farming in southern France, he acquired Château La Sauvageonne in November 2011, thus continuing his commitment to revealing the region’s exceptional terroirs. His wines are now distributed in 150 countries, and the group ranks among the world references for Demeter-certified biodynamic viticulture.

The vineyard

Château La Sauvageonne is located near the village of Saint-Jean-de-Blaquière, at the gateway to the Causse du Larzac, in Hérault, northwest of Montpellier. The vineyard lies on a remarkable terroir within the Terrasses du Larzac appellation, at 300 meters above sea level. This location generates significant diurnal temperature variations, exceeding 20 degrees Celsius in summer, promoting slow ripening of the grapes. The soils are made up of schist and ruffes, red lands formed from sedimentary rocks, bearing witness to an intense volcanic past. This singular geology, combined with the proximity of the Larzac plateau, creates a unique environment for the vine, characterized by what the estate describes as the expression of the forces of Earth and Fire.

The vintage

The 2012 vintage in Languedoc holds particular historical significance for Château La Sauvageonne, as it was the first harvest produced entirely according to biodynamic principles, the estate having been integrated into Gérard Bertrand’s biodynamic management system as early as autumn 2012.

Winemaking and aging

Château La Sauvageonne "Grand Vin" 2012 was vinified using a garage-wine approach, with each grape variety and each parcel handled separately before the final blend. Aging took place in oak barrels, bringing complexity and structure to the wine while preserving the expression of its volcanic terroir.

Grape varieties

Grenache blanc, vermentino, viognier, roussanne