Gérard Bertrand : Clos d'Ora 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for Clos d'Ora 2021 by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep, bright ruby-red color.

Nose

The nose opens on a fragrant bouquet of rhubarb, black cherry and captivating baking spices. The aromatic profile also reveals intense black-fruit aromas alongside spicy and floral notes evoking leather, pepper, nutmeg, violet and peony.

Palate

On the palate, the wine shines on multiple levels with remarkable breadth. Subtle, silky tannins lend a velvety structure of infinite precision. The silky texture is paired with striking freshness that carries through the entire tasting. Peppery generosity extends into a lingering finish marked by a lovely, savory bitterness.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with red meats, notably Aubrac beef. It also elegantly accompanies game meats such as wild boar or venison, as well as lamb prepared with aromatic herbs.

Serving and aging

Clos d'Ora 2021 is ideally served at 17°C after decanting for about one hour. This wine has excellent aging potential, allowing it to evolve gracefully for many years.

A Languedoc wine ranked among the best in the world

The estate

Gérard Bertrand now runs the world’s largest biodynamic wine estate, with more than 850 hectares Demeter-certified across seventeen properties in Languedoc-Roussillon. A former professional rugby player, he took over the family estate in 1987 at the age of twenty-two following the death of his father, Georges. Since then, he has transformed this once little-known region into a wine destination of international renown. Named World’s Best Winemaker by Drinks Business in 2023, Gérard Bertrand embodies a holistic approach to viticulture that integrates biodynamics, the art of living and respect for the terroir.

The vineyard

Clos d'Ora covers nine hectares enclosed by dry-stone walls in La Livinière, at the heart of the Minervois La Livinière appellation, at an altitude of 220 meters. The vineyard occupies an exceptional geological position on a fault line separating two distinct terroirs: the Bartonian and Lutetian formations. Soils of limestone, sandstone and marl create a mosaic of terroirs, allowing each grape variety to express itself according to its natural affinity. The vineyard is farmed exclusively biodynamically, with soil work carried out using mules, guided by intuition and a deep connection with nature. The preserved environment includes garrigue scrubland and protected forests, forming a sanctuary devoted to peace, love and harmony.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage in the Languedoc benefited from the region’s characteristic Mediterranean climate, with generous sunshine and warm days. Cool nights brought by altitude and breezes from the Montagne Noire helped preserve the grapes’ freshness and acidity, contributing to the wine’s remarkable balance.

Vinification and aging

Each grape variety in Clos d'Ora 2021 is vinified separately using methods tailored to its characteristics. Syrah is destemmed before vatting and vinification. Grenache and mourvèdre are destemmed and lightly crushed before being placed in temperature-controlled tanks, with very gentle macerations to limit tannin extraction. Carignan is vinified using whole clusters at a higher temperature to extract maximum aromatic character. Pump-overs are kept to a minimum and punch-downs are delicate to preserve the wine’s elegance. Fermentation and maceration take place in unlined, temperature-controlled prefabricated concrete vats. Aging continues in French oak barrels before the final blend, a true alchemy that structures and shapes the wine.

Grape varieties

Syrah (60%), grenache (25%), mourvèdre (10%), carignan (5%)