Gérard Bertrand : Le Viala 2021

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Gérard Bertrand’s Viala 2021

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep garnet hue, reflecting fine concentration and careful extraction.

Nose

Powerful and expressive, the nose reveals aromas of ripe berries alongside floral notes of violet and subtle hints of truffle, bringing a mineral dimension.

Palate

The attack is beautifully defined, followed by a silky texture with refined tannins. The oak notes integrate harmoniously with the fruit, offering a fine overall balance. The finish lingers with remarkable length.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with grilled red meats, game such as wild boar or venison in sauce, as well as flavorful aged cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring

Viala 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 15 and 18°C. It is recommended to open the bottle thirty minutes to one hour before serving to allow the wine to fully express itself. This wine offers excellent cellaring potential.

A single-parcel wine from Minervois La Livinière combining power and biodynamic elegance

The estate

Gérard Bertrand now runs one of the world’s largest biodynamic wine estates, with approximately 930 hectares of certified vineyards. Established in the Languedoc for four generations, the estate was officially founded in 1992 by Gérard Bertrand, a former international rugby player who transitioned into wine. The property stands out for its pioneering commitment to biodynamics, initiated as early as 2002, and for the management of sixteen châteaux and estates spread across the finest Languedoc terroirs. Gérard Bertrand embodies a modern vision of Mediterranean winegrowing, combining outstanding quality, respect for the environment, and international reach in more than 180 countries.

The vineyard

Viala comes from a specific parcel of Château Laville Bertrou, located in the heart of the Minervois La Livinière appellation. This exceptional terroir, recognized as a distinct cru since 1999, stretches across the foothills of the Montagne Noire at elevations ranging from 120 to 230 meters. The soils are composed of a mosaic of exposed marls combined with calcareous sandstones and compact limestones dating from the Eocene period. This geological complexity, combined with a Mediterranean climate tempered by nighttime breezes descending from higher elevations, promotes optimal ripening of the grapes while preserving freshness and aromatic concentration. The vineyard is farmed according to biodynamic principles with Demeter certification.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage was marked by a harsh winter, with frost episodes affecting certain French wine regions. Spring then brought more favorable conditions, allowing flowering at the end of May. June and July were particularly rainy, followed by weather instability from mid-July to mid-August. Despite these climatic contrasts, late-season conditions made it possible to obtain grapes with fine ripeness and remarkable balance.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Viala 2021 are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness. Each variety is vinified separately before blending. The wine then undergoes twelve months of aging in French oak barrels, allowing the tannins to refine and the oak notes to integrate harmoniously while preserving the expression of the fruit and the terroir.

Grape varieties

Syrah (60%), Grenache (25%), Carignan (15%)