Gerard Bertrand founded his company in 1992 with the purchase of Domaine Cigalus and Château LavilleBertrou. He now owns a heck of a lot of land throughout the different regions of the Languedoc, producing a ton of different wines specifically designed to represent the traditional wines of those places. The Languedoc is in southern France, along the Mediterranean.
This offering from Bertrand is a Banyuls; a Port-like dessert wine mainly made from the Grenache grape variety. The wine is partially fermented, and then cut off by the addition of grape brandy. This makes a sweet, raisiny, high-alcohol wine that I find to be just gorgeous.
The color of the wine is brick red. There's a salty savoriness on the nose above aromas of maraschino cherries in a thick cherry sauce, chocolate syrup, and caramel, all riding strong ethanol fumes that will not be ignored. Holy freakin' crap, I just love the smell of Banyuls and Port. It drives me wild!
On the palate it's medium bodied with soft tannin and the continuation of salty savoriness. The maraschino cherries in thick cherry sauce also returns in flavor, and there's also blueberries, mocha, pecans, and figs. Then it finishes with some heat from the alcohol and flavors of raisins, pecans, and caramel.
Gérard Bertrand's Banyuls is an excellent representation of what a Banyuls should be and at the right price, so if you love Port then you've got to pick this guy up to give Banyuls a try. Also, there is no better match with chocolate than a Banyuls. Trust me.
QUALITY VS PRICE RATING
Price: $18
Rating: 4/5 = Recommended.
(what does that mean?)
The bottle used was purchased by myself for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
The bottle used was purchased by myself for the purpose of this unpaid review. To have your wine reviewed follow this link.
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