Gerard Bertrand Minervois La Livinière Le Viala 2020

The grapes for this traditional Languedoc cuvée come from Château Laville Bertrou in the small AOC Minervois La Livinière in the Narbonne hinterland. Grenache Noir provides the powerful body, Syrah the elegance and depth, and Carignan the fresh, fruity acidity. The grapes are harvested by hand using biodynamic methods. Carignan and some of the Syrah are then processed as whole grapes, while the Grenache is destemmed. Only after malolactic fermentation is complete is the cuvée blended, followed by a year of ageing in French oak barriques. The result is a deep red, powerful yet balanced red wine from southern France with silky tannins, intensely ripe red fruit, garrigue and notes of violets, orange blossom, liquorice and dark tobacco. A mouthful of southern France!