Three for Three!
Along with writer/chef Matthew Wexler of www.roodeloo.com and writer/photographer (her pics above) Carly Caryn of EyeforStyle.cc we took on a tasting of three wines from the Gerard Bertrand collection. All from the South of France, these wines were bargains and delightful to sip on a summer night with friends.
We started with the 2010 Cremant de Limoux. It was light, clear, nice bubbles, crisp with a hint of toastiness. This type of bubbly along with Blanquette de Limoux (similar in style, with a different makeup of grapes) seem to always give good bang for the buck. Especially if you want a wine that resembles a true Champagne, CdL is made in the same method of second fermentation in bottle, but without the price of the stuff from up north.
Next up was the Gris Blanc. Just looking at the bottle (and not closely a the label) I believed this wine to be a white wine, but when you look at the label it says it a rose. Made from Grenache Gris, which is a grape that is grayish, yet does have some color to impart. The must must’ve spent barely a moment in contact with the skins, because it is very light for a rose, more of a peach color. It was very easy to drink, with it’s simple, light, nice fruit. You could sip this at a summer picnic all day and night.
Last up was the Muscat. The label proudly heralds it’s 10% abv, which lets the drinker know right away that this might be an off-dry or sweet wine. Best served with dessert, maybe fresh berries, this blend of two Muscats (Alexandria and Petit Grains), had a robust lychee, coconut and tropical fruit nose.
In general, I really love the IGPs (new French labeling designation which stands for Indication Geographique Protegee) of the Sud de France. They are coming up strong in the US market as good value wines that are perfect for everyday drinking. Gerard Bertrand does a great job proudly representing the region. Simple, approachable and refreshing! A votre sante!
Check out my friends’ take on these wines at:
