Gerard Bertrand 2022 Heritage AN 77 Clairette 750ml
Born in Narbonne in 1965, Gérard Bertrand famously played rugby at the very highest level, impressively starring for the French national team as well as club sides RC Narbonne and the renowned Stade Français, where he was captain. He retired from rugby and took over the family wine estate when his father tragically died in an accident. He’s since become one of the most highly regarded winemakers in Languedoc; in 2012 he was awarded the title of Red Winemaker of the Year and the honours have flowed ever since. Bertrand completed his first vinification at the age of ten, a year before he started playing rugby! He is deeply committed to natural farming; with 16 properties and over 1,200 hectares of vines, he is now the 2nd largest producer of biodynamic wines in the world. Adissan is a legendary wine estate in the Mediterranean countryside depicted by Cézanne and Van Gogh and mentioned by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia some 2000 years ago. Clairette is a Mediterranean grape with the kind of scintillating acidity that is highly valued in white Rhone blends. This is a rare chance to taste clairette solo. Fresh and juicy with aromas and flavours of peach, honeysuckle, and almond, with heavenly texture and a savoury, botanical finish. At home in the South of France this would classically be served as an apéritif with olives and some excellent cheeses, but it’ll stand up to pork or veal chops, veggie casseroles or bouillabaisse.
-- DJ Kearney