New Wines from Gerard Bertrand

Lots of folks have asked us about Gerard Bertrand's Minervois and Corbières, I think because they were the two wines with a presence in the Michigan marketplace before we picked the winery up.  We didn't bring them in initially because they were unavailable, but I'm glad to report that they landed here in Ann Arbor late last week! 

We're giving them a few days to settle down, but I couldn't resist popping one of the '05 Minervois, and I can say that the wine is delicious.  A blend of Syrah and Carignane, it's got the deep, dark berry and meatiness you'd expect, good muscularity, warm earthiness, and good intensity.  With a suggested retail in the $17 range, this "overdelivers," as they say.

Other new arrivals from GB include their red and white wines from the Chateau L'Hospitalet in La Clape, which are more modern, vanilla-scented versions of Syrah/Grenache/Mourvedre and Chardonnay/Grenache Gris blends.  Also arrived, their top wines, Minervois "La Viala", Corbières "La Forge," and L'Hospitalitas, the last three of which are made in miniscule (approx. 400) case lots and carry 91, 90, and 93 point ratings from Wine Spectator in the current vintages.

Finally, we've reloaded on the '04 Cremant de Limoux, the rich sparkler from Mauzac, Chenin, and Chardonnay, which has new pricing on it that drops it to an irresistibly hot  $18 retail (for sophisticated, mature, vintage dated bubbly?! C'mon!).