Gérard Bertrand An 560 Cotes Du Roussillon Villages GSC 2020
So much has been written about Gérard Bertrand, me included, so I will not go over the previous ground. From humble beginnings as a 5-year-old helping to pick grapes rising to be one of France’s best Rugby Football players to cutting his career short to take over running of the family winery after the death of his father.
Out of adversity comes opportunity in areas you were not expecting- the result is some excellent wines, organic and biodynamic farming practices, a convention center, an annual jazz festival, and several vineyard sites hand-selected to pair with specific grape varietals to produce exceptional wines, not to mention an exceptional vision for the future.
This is just one of their wines that is not only a delight to drink but exceptional value as well.
An 560 Cótes Du Roussillon Villages 2020
This is a red blend consisting of 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 10% Carignan and is dominated by red and dark fruits with subtle notes of herbs buried. Sourced from Vineyards close to the ocean and close enough to the Spanish border to be, almost, mistaken for a Spanish wine.
An enticing nose pulls you in to take your first sip. The palate is all dark cherries, black raspberries, and blackberries with secondary layers of herbs, black pepper, and notes of roasted meat. Make no mistake, this is a delight to drink.
Pairings should include Roasted Herb Chicken, or from the grill, Pork Shanks, Turkey, rustic French Stew, and Game.
This will cellar out to 2028 without a problem.
Chateau Mont-Redon Lirac 2020- immensely appealing!
Château Mont-Redon has been in the Abeille and Fabre families for four generations and is the largest land owner in Châteauneuf-du-Pape with 100 hectares situated in, what is considered the best sites in the appellation, with other hand-selected sites as far as Southern Rhone, and Lirac, where this wine is from. Vineyards are situated on the right bank of the Rhône River west of Châteauneuf-du-Pape between the towns of Orange and Avignon planted in sandy and stony soils with warm breezes keeping it dry.
The blend varies from year to year but it is predominately Grenache- 70%, Syrah- 20%, and Mourvedre- 10%
An appealing nose of floral, red fruits, and subtly spices invite you to take a sip.
The palate has immediate appeal with impressive layers of ripe red cherries, and raspberries, with secondary notes of red currents, blackberries, plums, and spices. Impressive balance and restraint, as well as a long finish only add to its appeal. Tannins are evident but will need a few hours of decanting to get the best out of it- July 2023.
Pairings should include Roasted Herb Chicken- roasted or from the grill, Pork shanks, Turkey, rustic French Stew, and game.
Cellar out to 2030
Vine to Table 