Gérard Bertrand : Le Viala 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Le Viala 2022 Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Colour
This red wine from France displays a deep garnet colour, with intense brilliance and violet highlights that reflect its remarkable freshness.

Nose
Beautifully complex, the bouquet reveals intense aromas of stone fruit and black berries such as blackberry, plum and blackcurrant. It is enriched with floral notes of violet and orange blossom, complemented by hints of liquorice, undergrowth and subtly toasted oak.

Palate
The attack is both powerful and refined. The mid-palate is generous and rich, carried by concentrated flavours of small red and black berries. The tannins are perfectly integrated, offering a silky texture that stretches into a long finish marked by delicate roasted notes.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs wonderfully with grilled or roasted red meats, as well as game with pronounced flavours such as wild boar or venison. It will also enhance a traditional cassoulet or a platter of aged hard or washed-rind cheeses.

Service and storage

For an optimal tasting experience, it is recommended to decant Le Viala 2022 about an hour before serving and to enjoy it at a temperature between 17 and 18°C. Built to age, this wine will reveal its full potential and can be kept until around 2042, or even longer depending on cellar conditions.

Other characteristics

This wine stands out for its absence of fining and filtration, preserving all of its natural complexity. It is also certified vegan. The quality of this vintage has been recognised with a score of 93/100 from Robert Parker and 16.5/20 from Bettane & Desseauve.

The authentic expression of a Minervois La Livinière terroir

The estate

Officially founded in 1992, the Gérard Bertrand company has become the leading ambassador for Languedoc wines around the world. Now at the helm of the estate, Gérard Bertrand has elevated his domaine to the rank of world leader in biodynamic viticulture. Spanning nearly 1,000 hectares across seventeen estates in France, the brand stands out for its deep commitment to the environment and to revealing exceptional terroirs, producing prestigious cuvées that rival the greatest names on the international stage.

The vineyard

Hailing from the Château Laville Bertrou estate, this cuvée comes from a distinctive plot within the Minervois La Livinière appellation. Rising between 120 and 230 metres in altitude, the vines benefit from an ideal south-east exposure. The terroir consists of a complex geological mosaic combining marl, calcareous sandstone and compact limestone dating back to the Eocene. This arid soil forces the roots to dig deep, favouring berry concentration. The entire vineyard is farmed according to the strict principles of biodynamic agriculture.

The vintage

The year 2022 was marked by typically Mediterranean weather conditions. A particularly dry summer, characterised by very low rainfall and intense sunshine, caused heat stress on the vines. These conditions allowed for optimal concentration of phenolic compounds within the grapes.

Winemaking and aging

The harvest for Le Viala 2022 is carried out by hand in small crates, followed by meticulous sorting of the berries. In the cellar, the Carignan and part of the Syrah are vinified as whole clusters through low-temperature carbonic maceration. The Grenache, meanwhile, is destemmed before undergoing a traditional maceration lasting around three weeks. After blending, the wine is aged for twelve months in 225-litre French oak barrels. It then rests for an additional year in bottle before release.

Grape varieties

Syrah, Grenache, Carignan