The Bertrand family
Decanter 91/100
IGP Cité de Carcassonne
Castellum IGP Cité de Carcassonne 2019 – 75cl red wine
Aromatic - Floral - Elegant
An ambitious, complex wine with a beautiful texture
IGP Cité de Carcassonne
Merlot
75cl Bottle
Vintage 2019
Lamb Chop
Cheeses
Game
Your expert
A question about this product?
Wine description
Castellum is the term used in the Middle Ages for the central fortified village Castrum, located on the heights of the Languedoc. The name of this cuvée evokes the fortifications of the Cité de Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Comments from Guillaume Barraud, Deputy Director of the Estates:
The Castellum cuvée comes from the finest parcels of the estate, located on an argilo-gréseux hillside facing the magnificent city of Carcassonne. The vines sit at a climatological crossroads between the Mediterranean and oceanic influence. It is for this reason that grape varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec thrive there particularly well. These grape varieties, through daily monitoring of the grapes during the harvest which extends until late October, reach full phenolic ripeness while retaining surprisingly fresh levels. The result is a wine with silky tannins that marry perfectly with those from 12 months of ageing in oak barrels, with a very beautiful power alongside a lingering freshness and elegance. These wines also need time to age in bottle to express the full potential of this wine, which is made possible by this 2016 vintage.
Comments from our Head Sommelier:
Castellum 2016 is a red wine offering a complex aromatic profile ranging from chocolate to small black fruits, with notes of menthol and leather. On the palate, the tannins are supple and balanced by a beautiful minerality. The finish is long and indulgently fruity. 2016 is a sunny vintage that allowed the harvest of fully ripe and healthy fruit.
Food & Wine pairings suggested by our chef
Serve at 16°C with a rack of lamb,
game or cheese.
Winemaking and ageing
Work begins in the vineyard with meticulous care to ensure healthy, well-exposed foliage. The grapes must achieve optimal ripeness. A plot selection is carried out, and harvesting is done by hand with destemming and sorting of the berries.
Vinification is traditional. The grapes are destemmed, followed by a long maceration period (at a temperature of 26°C in temperature-controlled vats) to enhance the expression of the fruit. Pressing takes place, taking care to separate the press wines, and the wines are then racked to eliminate the coarsest lees before malolactic fermentation. Following the latter, the wines are racked once again and then aged in French oak barrels.
Tasting note
The colour is deep red. The nose reveals
great aromatic richness and complexity with
intense aromas of ripe fruits and violet.
A beautiful roundness and length on the palate,
characterised by silky, well-integrated tannins
and spiced notes.
Storage
Keep away from sunlight and at a constant temperature
Grape varieties
Technical sheet
Castellum IGP Cité de Carcassonne 2019 – 75cl red wine
Sale price27.00 €
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Decanter 91/100
Castellum IGP Cité de Carcassonne 2019 – 75cl red wine
Sale price27.00 €
Recognition of GÉRARD BERTRAND EXPERTISE
Ratings & Scores
Bettane+Desseauve 90/100
90/100
James Suckling 91/100
91/100
Decanter 91/100
91/100
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Your questions about our wines
Each product page provides a food and wine pairing suggestion suited to the cuvée. Our online tasting assistant can also advise you based on your menu.
The ageing potential depends on the cuvée and vintage — it is specified in this wine's technical sheet. In general, our wines for ageing and fine wines can be kept for more than 10 years, or even over 100 years for our fortified sweet wines, whilst our lighter cuvées, intended to be enjoyed young, are best appreciated within 2 to 3 years of purchase.
The alcohol content (% vol.) varies by cuvée and vintage; it is listed in the product’s technical data sheet, below the description.
The majority of our red, white and rosé wines are dry. Our natural sweet wines (Rivesaltes, Maury...) and certain crémants are sweet or semi-dry. The style (dry/sweet) of this cuvée is specified in its description.
The grape varieties, appellation and terroir of origin are indicated in this product’s technical data sheet.
Like almost all wines, our cuvées contain sulphites (naturally present during fermentation, sometimes added in small quantities as a preservative). Details (“no added sulphites”, level, etc.) are specified on this product’s technical data sheet and on the back label.
Many Gérard Bertrand cuvées are vegan certified (100% plant-based fining agents, no products of animal origin). This wine’s vegan status is indicated in its certifications on the product page.
A large proportion of our production is certified Organic Agriculture and/or Biodynamic (Demeter). The certifications applicable to this cuvée are listed on its product page under “Certifications”.
As a general rule: 8-10°C for rosés and light whites, 10-12°C for more complex whites, 16-18°C for reds. The most suitable serving temperature for this cuvée is also indicated on its technical sheet.
This depends on the wine and its age, as specified on the technical data sheet where relevant. As a general rule, our powerful age-worthy wines benefit from being decanted 30 minutes to 1 hour before tasting; lighter wines, whites and rosés can be served directly.
Yes, several cuvées are available in gift boxes, individually or as an assortment. See the “Gift Boxes” section of the shop or the product page to view the available options.
Depending on the cuvée: 37.5 cl (half-bottle), 75 cl (standard size), 150 cl (Magnum), and sometimes larger sizes. The size(s) available for this product are indicated on its product page.
We do not produce dealcoholised wine. However, our range offers wines with lower alcohol content: So'Vive (naturally low-alcohol organic white wine), Le Chouchou (light red wine) and Cote des Roses Red Léger. The precise alcohol content of each cuvée is indicated on its product sheet.
Delivery costs are calculated automatically when adding items to the basket; delivery is free for orders of €150 or more in mainland France. Allow between 2 and 5 working days for delivery in France, and up to 15 working days internationally. Full details (carriers, zones, returns) can be found on our Shipping Policy page.
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