Gérard Bertrand : Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1936

Tasting characteristics and tips for Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1936 by Gérard Bertrand

Tasting

Appearance

The color reveals a magnificent amber hue with tawny highlights, reflecting the harmonious evolution of this wine over the decades.

Nose

The nose unveils complex aromas of caramelized fruit, accompanied by notes of cocoa and licorice, the hallmark of long aging in an oxidative environment.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is generous and full-bodied, offering lovely presence and remarkable concentration, characteristic of the very greatest Vins Doux Naturels.

Food and wine pairings

This Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1936 pairs beautifully with chocolate, blue cheeses such as Roquefort, as well as walnut cakes. It can also be enjoyed as an aperitif or at the end of a meal as a refined digestif.

Serving and cellaring potential

Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1936 is ideally enjoyed at a temperature between 12 and 14°C. With more than 80 years of evolution, this wine demonstrates the outstanding aging potential of the Vins Doux Naturels from the Rivesaltes appellation.

An exceptional Vin Doux Naturel from Roussillon, a witness to a historic year

The estate

Gérard Bertrand embodies the transformation of Languedoc-Roussillon into a world-renowned wine region. Founded in 1992, the Gérard Bertrand wine company now spans 17 estates representing approximately 930 hectares of vineyards. Led by Gérard Bertrand, a former professional rugby player turned visionary winemaker, the estate has established itself as the global leader in large-scale biodynamic viticulture, with 830 hectares certified Demeter. Named “World’s Best Winemaker” in 2023 by the British magazine The Drinks Business, Gérard Bertrand exports its wines to 180 countries.

The vineyard

The Rivesaltes appellation extends over more than 8,000 hectares across more than 85 communes in the Pyrénées-Orientales department and 9 neighboring communes in Aude. The vineyard stretches across stepped terraces and hills crossed by three rivers that have shaped the landscape over time. The soils are characterized by their shallow depth, dryness, low organic matter content, and very stony nature, ensuring excellent drainage. These specific conditions create an ideal environment for producing high-quality, exceptionally long-lived Vins Doux Naturels.

The vintage

The year 1936 in Roussillon holds major historical importance for the appellation: it was precisely that year that Rivesaltes was granted its Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée by decree of August 6, 1936, making it one of the first French wines to attain this prestigious status. At the time, Rivesaltes enjoyed great success and ranked among France’s most renowned appellations.

Winemaking and aging

Legend Vintage Rivesaltes 1936 was crafted using the traditional method for Vins Doux Naturels, with oxidative aging for many years in large vessels. This long aging process produced the wine’s beautiful characteristic amber color, as well as the incomparable aromatic complexity developed over more than 80 years of evolution. This exceptional cuvée comes in a 75 cl bottle accompanied by its original presentation case, a true collector’s piece for discerning enthusiasts.

Grape varieties

Grenache Blanc, Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir, Macabeu and Tourbat (Malvoisie du Roussillon).