Gérard Bertrand : Aigle Royal 2021

Characteristics and tasting tips for Aigle Royal 2021 by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Appearance
The wine displays a brilliant ruby-red color.

Nose
The nose reveals expressive aromas of small red berries, notably raspberry and redcurrant, complemented by notes of sweet spices that lend a warm, gourmet dimension.

Palate
On the palate, this wine charms with its fruity character and delicate structure, offering a lovely harmony between freshness and roundness.

Food and wine pairings
This Pinot Noir pairs perfectly with roasted white meats, poultry in a light sauce, as well as soft cheeses. It also goes very well with mushroom-based dishes or fine charcuterie.

Serving and cellaring
Aigle Royal 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 15-16°C. It can be enjoyed now or kept for a few years in the cellar to allow its aromas to develop further.

A Languedoc Pinot Noir with fruity and spicy aromas

The estate
Founded in 1992, the Gérard Bertrand estate has established itself today as the world’s largest producer of biodynamic wines, with nearly 930 hectares of vineyards spread across 16 to 17 properties in Languedoc and Roussillon. Gérard Bertrand, former captain of Stade Français turned visionary winemaker, has transformed the reputation of wines from the south of France by combining outstanding quality with a total commitment to the environment. A pioneer of biodynamics since 2002, he runs a family-owned company recognized as World’s Best Winemaker 2023 by The Drinks Business. Gérard Bertrand embodies the successful alliance between winemaking tradition and sustainable innovation.

The vineyard
Aigle Royal comes from Domaine de l'Aigle, located in the IGP Haute Vallée de l'Aude, one of the highest vineyards in Languedoc-Roussillon. The Pinot Noir vines thrive between 250 and 500 meters above sea level on clay-limestone soils strewn with stony elements. This exceptional altitude gives the vineyard an oceanic climate with semi-continental influences, noticeably cooler than the predominant Mediterranean climate in the region. The plots benefit from a full southern exposure facing the snow-capped Pyrenees, allowing slow, gradual ripening of the grapes. The vineyard is managed according to biodynamic principles, with a high planting density and regular manual work throughout the growing cycle.

The vintage
The 2021 vintage in Languedoc was marked by a harsh winter with frost episodes affecting many French vineyards. Spring brought milder conditions, encouraging flowering at the end of May. June and July proved particularly rainy, followed by weather instability from mid-July to mid-August. Despite these climatic challenges, the altitude of Domaine de l'Aigle helped preserve the grapes’ natural freshness and achieve excellent aromatic ripeness.

Winemaking and aging
The Aigle Royal 2021 harvest is carried out exclusively by hand, allowing rigorous selection of bunches at optimal ripeness. After gentle pneumatic pressing of whole clusters, the must undergoes light cold settling. Alcoholic fermentation begins in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks, then the wine is transferred halfway through fermentation into new barrels, where malolactic fermentation also takes place. Aging continues for seven to eight months with regular bâtonnage to enrich the wine’s texture. The wine is not filtered before bottling in order to preserve its full aromatic complexity, and it then benefits from a few additional months of rest in bottle before release.

Grape variety
100% Pinot Noir.