AOP Minervois: wines steeped in history

Discover Minervois red wine, an emblem of the Occitanie region

Associated with the ancient city of Minerve, from which it takes its name, the Minervois terroir is widely recognized as one of Europe's oldest vineyards. Nestled on a promontory, this emblematic town embodies the very essence of a region where viticulture flourished as far back asRoman times. It was here that the Romans cultivated their first vines, contributing to the development of this wine-growing region. The decisive influence of the Canal du Midi, built to transport wine to Bordeaux by river, also played a major role in the region's development.

Its vineyards, located on the plains and exposed to the Mediterranean winds, have been shaped by man, with visible evidence of this in the form of capitelles and dry-stone walls. However, the most remarkable remains are the " châteaux pinardiers ", castles built or converted in the late 19th century around wine estates within a 25 km radius of Béziers. These winegrowing monuments, which are still privately owned today, bear witness to the region's abundance of winegrowers in the last century, and represent an important part of Languedoc history.

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The Minervois vineyards: one of the largest in Languedoc-Roussillon

The Minervois vineyard is recognized as one of the most important in the AOC Languedoc family, and its appellation area one of the largest. Its prestige is attested to by its classification as one of the Grands Vins du Languedoc since 1985. Stretching from Narbonne to Carcassonne, it is bounded to the south by the Canal du Midi and to the north by the majestic Montagne Noire. Its relief varies considerably, with altitudes ranging from 50 meters near the Canal du Midi and the Aude to over 500 meters in the mountain foothills.

The Minervois vineyards are located in a Mediterranean climate zone, characterized by hot, dry summers, but protected from northerly winds by the Montagne Noire. It is swept by the famous Tramontane, Cers and Marin winds, among others, for 300 to 350 days a year. Today, 4,000 hectares of the nearly 15,000 hectares of vines are dedicated to the production of three distinct Appellations d'Origine Protégée:AOP Minervois (since 1985),AOP La Livinière (since 1999) andAOP Muscat de Saint-Jean-de-Minervois (since 1948).

The Minervois terroir offers a great diversity of characteristics, which contributes to the richness of its appellation. These include the Balcons de l'Aude, the Causse, the Mourels, the Petit Causse and the Terrasses. Minervois wines are mainly made from several grape varieties, including Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Dark and intense in color, these wines develop aromas of red or candied fruit, wild berries and even violets. The appellation also produces a number of rosé and white wines featuring a multitude of grape varieties, including Bourboulenc, Grenache and Roussanne.

The village of La Livinière gave its name to the appellation, which was recognized in 1999.AOC Minervois-La Livinière is considered the premier cru of the Languedoc region. It covers wines produced in five communes around the village, in the Petit-Causse region (Azillanet, Cesseras, Félines-Minervois, La Livinière and Siran). The rules for this appellation are stricter than those for Minervois. It applies exclusively to the production of red wines aged for at least 15 months before bottling. Its wines are described as complex, powerful and warm, yet balanced, evolving on spicy notes of cooked or candied fruit with hints of vanilla or cocoa when aged in oak barrels.

As for theMuscat de Saint-Jean-de-MinervoisAOP (the only Muscat not located by the sea), it concerns only Vins Doux Naturels made from a single grape variety, Muscat à petits grains. These wines are distinguished by their exotic fruit, citrus and white-fleshed fruit aromas.

Discover the range of Gérard Bertrand AOP Minervois La Lavinière wines.

Gérard Bertrand Heritage wine "An 873" - Minervois

Gérard Bertrand, renowned for highlighting thehistory of the great terroirs of southern France, unveils with the cuvée Héritage "An 873" an emblematic wine that embodies all the richness of the Minervois terroir. It takes its name from Château de Minerve, and pays homage to the Roman goddess of wisdom.

For this cuvée, the grapes are harvested exclusively by hand. After careful destemming, the grape varieties are vinified separately to preserve and express their full potential. After malolactic fermentation in vats, the different grape varieties are blended, and the wine is then aged in Bordeaux barrels for around 8 months. This aging process adds subtle nuances and refines the aromas. After light fining and bottling, the wine is stored for several months before release. This period of maturation contributes to the blossoming of the wine, allowing it to fully develop its character.

In the glass, Cuvée Héritage "An 873" reveals an eye-catching dark red color. On the nose, an intense, complex bouquet unfolds, revealing bewitching notes of blackcurrant, licorice and peppery cocoa. On the palate, the experience is both rich and intense, with pure, complex flavors of black fruit and fresh spices blending harmoniously. The finish is long and smooth, leaving a lasting impression.

To fully appreciate this wine, we recommend drinking it at a temperature of 18°C. It goes perfectly with grilled red meats, bringing out their robust flavors, as well as mature cheeses, which will reveal new gustatory harmonies.

The cuvée Héritage "An 873" thus embodies Gérard Bertrand's excellence and passion for promoting the terroirs of southern France, offering wine loversan exceptional sensory experience with every sip.

Buy the wine Gérard Bertrand Héritage "An 873" - Minervois 2019.

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