Gérard Bertrand : Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1944

Tasting notes and serving suggestions for the Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1944 by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Appearance
A magnificent amber hue with brick and terracotta highlights unfolds, a testament to nearly eight decades of oxidative evolution.

Nose
The nose reveals remarkable aromatic complexity, with notes of truffle, dried fruits (hazelnuts, currants), sweet spices (cinnamon), and subtle touches of coffee, cocoa, and dried figs.

Palate
On the palate, the wine charms with its velvety texture and outstanding balance. Flavors of candied exotic fruits and baked apricots blend harmoniously with its natural sweetness, while the finish—exceptionally long—lingers with elegance.

Food and wine pairings

This Rivesaltes is an ideal match for blue-veined cheeses such as Roquefort, walnut cheeses, as well as dark chocolate desserts. It can also be enjoyed on its own, as a wine for contemplation.

Serving and cellaring

The Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1944 is served at a temperature between 10 and 16°C. Thanks to its exceptional aging potential, this wine can continue to evolve favorably for many years under optimal storage conditions.

A historic Rivesaltes from Roussillon by Gérard Bertrand

The estate

Gérard Bertrand now runs one of the largest biodynamic wine estates in the world, with nearly 930 hectares of vines spread across around fifteen properties in Languedoc-Roussillon. A former professional rugby player who became a winemaker in 1987 after the death of his father Georges, he transformed the family legacy into an internationally recognized wine empire. A pioneer of large-scale biodynamic viticulture since 2002, he has obtained Demeter certification for 830 hectares of his vineyards. His wines are now distributed in 180 countries, and Gérard Bertrand was named Best Winemaker in the World in 2023 by Drinks Business magazine. The Legend Vintage collection reflects his commitment to preserving and showcasing Roussillon’s historic wine heritage, offering rare vintages of fortified wines sourced from different origins and stored under optimal conditions.

The vineyard

The Rivesaltes appellation covers 8,000 hectares across 86 communes in Pyrénées-Orientales and 9 communes in Aude. The vines grow on diversified terroirs composed of coarse granitic sands, gneiss, brown and black schists, as well as red limestones. Shaped by the Agly, Têt, and Tech rivers, these soils benefit from a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers, encouraging the natural concentration of sugars in the grapes. This region of Roussillon offers ideal conditions for crafting outstanding vins doux naturels.

Vinification and aging

The Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1944 was produced using the traditional mutage method, which involves stopping fermentation by adding neutral spirit in order to preserve the grape’s natural sugars. For the red grape varieties, skin maceration allowed for the extraction of color and tannins. The wine was then aged for several decades in large oak vats, gradually developing its aromatic complexity and its rancio character, so distinctive of great Rivesaltes.

Grape varieties

Grenache Noir, Macabeu, Grenache Gris