When most Americans rave about the beauty of “the south of France” they are usually referring to Provence, specifically the area from around Cannes to Monaco. That area is beautiful and its name on a bottle of wine nearly guarantees a brilliant rosé.
But move closer to France’s border with Spain and a whole different style of wine appears. Travelers lucky enough to get to the Languedoc area will find 90% fewer foreign tourists as well as winemakers with a small chip on their shoulder about the quality/fame ratio of their wines in comparison to Provence’s. This is the home of Gerard Bertrand, the former professional rugby player and current winemaker at his family’s estates.
For us arm-chair travelers who seek insight in a glass of wine, the Gerard Bertrand Cote Des Roses ($15) shows what can be accomplished when the vineyards are treated with care and love. Historically, the knock on the Languedoc has been that they create anonymous wines using industrial methods. That hasn’t been true for decades, but reputations in this part of the world die hard.
Bertrand’s Rosé smells like fresh berries and subtle flowers. It is made from a blend of Grenache, Cinsault, and Syrah, which gives it a feel closer to a red wine as well as a nice, long finish. This wine is ideal as a crowd-pleasing backyard party wine. The model food matching would be with any dish that features Gulf shrimp as the primary ingredient.
Gerard Bertrand Cote Des Roses is available at several Twin Liquors and Total Wines, or, if you prefer, any other store should be able to order it for you.
This article appears in May 14 • 2021.
