Since the late 20th century, Languedoc wine production has been focused on making better wines. The region has been the focus of investment to modernize and take advantage of this remarkable wine-growing region. The Languedoc-Roussillon has the largest vineyard acreage in the world under one geographical identity, with 606,000 acres of vineyards. More than 1/3 of French wines are produced there, 5% of the world’s wine. Sourced from 21,375 wine-growing estates and represents over $1 billion worth of wine. Over the past 20 years, there have been dramatic improvements in the quality of wine produced. A new marketing program, Sud de France branding, aims to market this quality jump, and it has been proven time after time that what you get for your buck here is always impressive.

Meet Gerard Bertrand, born and raised in the South of France. Gerard Bertrand’s life growing up in the south of France was a constant balance between winemaking and rugby. As an adult, he was a professional rugby player for 17 years, and at the same time, he helped manage his father’s wine business. Gerard had started apprenticing in the cellar when he was ten years old. Today he is a winegrower and owner of 15 estates, including Château l’Hospitalet, Domaine des Cathares, Château Aigues Vives, and Clos d’Ora. He produces 200 different labels worldwide, 40 for the US market. Gerard has spent the past 30 years helping reinvent his native Languedoc wine region in southern France, propelling it to one of the world’s best.

Gerard Bertrand is the largest and most influential independent winemaker in the Languedoc-Roussillon and the second-largest exporter of this region to the US. In 2002 Bertrand read Rudolf Steiner’s treatise “Agriculture Course,” the basis for biodynamic farming. Although Biodynamic is a buzzword used quite a bit in the wine industry, no one embraces it more than Gerard Bertrand. All his 15 estates are biodynamic. With 1,000 acres of vines, Bertrand is the largest Biodynamic vineyard owner in the world. Bertrand states, “Biodynamic wine is one way to connect people to the Earth. Unlike ‘conventional’ agriculture in which humans impose their will on Earth, biodynamic winemaking requires collaboration, paying close attention to the Earth’s rhythms and needs.” Bertrand admits, “Even those of us who practice biodynamics cannot explain fully how or why it works, but we learn more every day, every year.” Most agree that besides being better for life on Earth, the wines taste better. The standard descriptor tasters use for biodynamic wines is vibrant, or the wine is full of life.

L’Hospitalet is the result of a beautiful game of chance. La Clape (meaning a heap of pebbles) is an appellation within the Languedoc zone in Southern France. Wine production in the area dates back to around 600 BC via colonization by Phoenicians. It became truly established during the Roman period; Julius Caesar awarded land grants to his best soldiers in this area, and many turned to viticulture. Up until the 14th century, La Clape was, in fact, an island known by the Romans as Insula Laci off the Roman port of Narbo (Narbonne) on the Mediterranean coast. Then soils washed down the Aude River, and changes to the coastline caused it to be joined to the mainland. La Clape was recognized as an AOC starting with the 2015 vintage. 

The Hospitalet area is protected from the vagaries of time by a cliff. Surrounding the vineyards are truffle patches, mulberry, and olive trees. Their aromas, carried by the wind, add to the magic of the domain’s wines. L’Hospitalet also benefits from one of the sunniest climates in France, balanced by the Mediterranean humidity. Located on the coast, Château de l’Hospitalet looks down on the Mediterranean from a height of 300 feet. Having a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with mild winters, the vineyard enjoys exceptional climatic conditions: the quantity of sunshine and the heat stored during the day by the limestone and released to the grapes at night, and the effect of the Mediterranean which reduces temperature differences and the altitude which counteracts the summer heat. Two types of soil contribute to this wine's generosity: aromatic complexity, liveliness, and freshness. The Gargasian marl-limestone at the foot of the cliff is rich in fossils and provides water to the vine stocks all through summer despite the absence of summer rain, and the red Mediterranean soil from the Barremian period, formed on compact grey-blue limestone and reclaimed from the scrubland, enables the production of rich and concentrated wines. 

Gerard Bertrand’s wines show off the unique character of microclimates throughout the South of France. This wine is sourced from his estate, Chateau l’Hospitalet, nestled in the heart of the rocky massif of La Clape in the Languedoc. The La Clape appellation is a 600-foot-high limestone plateau that was once an island in ancient times and is now part of a nature preserve. The limestone-rich soils are ideal for Syrah (60%) which is the main grape, along with Grenache (30%) and Mourvedre (10%). The cooling effects of the sea and altitude allow the grapes to ripen fully but slowly, retaining excellent balance.

The grapes are harvested manually, and each variety is vinified separately. A part of the Syrah is vinified in whole bunches. The maceration period is about 20 to 25 days. At the end of winter, 100% of the wine is transferred to new 225-liter barrels (French oak) for 12 to 16 months in the magnificent Hospitalet cellar (2,000 barrels). The best barrels of each grape variety are selected and blended to make this wine.

Ripe Ribena and cassis flavors with perfumed cloves and fresh ground pepper. The full-bodied palate is rich with tannins and holds lots of oak while offering baked figs, cooked cherry, and soy accents. The wine has the substance and quality to age gracefully. Decanter 97 pts

Aromas of mulberries, dark plums, chocolate, tapenade, Mediterranean herbs, and cloves. Full-bodied with nicely chewy tannins. Structured with juicy black fruit on the mid-palate and a flavorful finish with excellent length. James Suckling 92 pts

For fans of the modern style, this is big and brooding, with concentrated ripe blackberry and cherry preserves. White pepper, fresh mint, and roasted garigue add nice range and savory energy. Silky tannins cruising through the finish. Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre. Wine Spectator 91 pts

Gerard Bertrand Chateau l’Hospitalet 2020

Everyone was excited to try this wine. Something about a well-made Southern France wine just wants to make you smile. The wine is soft and fruit-forward, with dark fruit flavors, saddle leather, lilac in the nose. Bramble blackberries, cassis, and orange peel flavors with moderate silky tannins. A long, lush finish. A highly rated, estate bottled, Syrah, Genache, Mourvedre, Biodynamic blend from Southern France, at under $30, what could be better?

Regular Price: $44.99

*Sale price is on 3 or more bottles.

Wine is packed in a 6 bottle wooden case

Quantities are limited

*Wine pricing for these wine promotions are held for two weeks after the email offer.

We can hold wines in unpaid reserves for two weeks to allow you time to pick up your wine. If it takes you longer than that to pick up your wines, give us a call, and we can process your wine and move it to paid reserves.

Orders must be done by replying to this email. The reason is that I need to keep control of the inventory in one central spot. Emailing or calling your favorite wine geek at one of our four stores may not get your orders in on time to be counted or processed and this creates a helter-skelter for us to get you the wine. For the same reason, ordering on our online Web Store is linked to our regular price, and this sale price is only offered on the email platform. It is also why it takes me some time to respond due to the deluge of orders that I sometimes get. We haven't reached the efficiency or volume of Amazon yet, and in this post-pandemic environment, simple operations sometimes prove difficult. Thank you in advance for your patience.

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